Family therapy with older adult clients

✍ Scribed by Sara Honn Qualls

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 62 KB
• Volume: 55
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-9762
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4679(199908)55:8<977::aid-jclp6>3.0.co;2-f

✦ Synopsis

Families are the most important social context for older adults, and thus are often an appropriate focus of intervention. Whether therapy involves one or many family members, a family framework can be used to leverage change at the individual or family level. Drawing upon systems theory and family development theory to conceptualize family difficulties, family therapists examine historical and current patterns of behavior, communication, and beliefs and expectations. The case of a family with long-term difficulties is used to illustrate how key events of middle and later adulthood can alter the structure and functioning of a family. Although normative and non-normative events usually generate some degree of tension within the family system, the opportunity for change is also present at transition periods. Therapy can facilitate positive change by instigating small but significant changes that reduce interpersonal tension while increasing the family's flexibility to solve problems, relate intimately together, and meet individuals' needs.