|
Publications
|
Session 2 - Genogram/Family Tree
Brief Couples Therapy: Group and Individual Couple Treatment for Addiction and Related Mental Health Concerns
For this session:
Objectives
Couples will:
- begin to understand the impact of substance use on their own relationship and their families of origin
- begin to identify patterns of use and related problems in their own relationship
- further identify and develop their treatment goals.
Group cohesion and commitment will continue to develop.
Checklist
Guidelines for the counsellor with tips on what to do with or say to the client.
- Check-in
Ask about questions or issues arising from the last session.
“Name a thought, word or feeling that describes how you are right now.”
- Stating the Format and Purpose of This Session
“Through the presentation of the family trees to the group, you will begin to understand the impact of substance use in your
own relationship and in your families of origin. This will help you to focus on areas for change and relationship goals. We
will begin this process tonight with a review of your family trees, and we will continue to explore goals and areas for change
in later sessions.”
- Reviewing Family Trees
Each couple will present their family tree, which will be taped to the wall. All of the family trees will be explored with
the group in terms of patterns of family relationships, and positive and negative aspects of these relationships. Group leaders
will record common themes and issues on a flipchart, keeping in mind potential areas for change and treatment goals.
To the extent that it is comfortable for the client who is sharing, explore relationship patterns, substance use, and similarities
and differences across generations that may be influencing the current couple relationship.
Ask couples to “identify two things of interest that helped you to do this — one pleasant surprise and one not-so-pleasant
surprise.”
- Homework (Miracle Question)
Couples are instructed to complete the Miracle Question handout for discussion in the next session. Note that the purpose
of the Miracle Question is to instil a sense of hope and agency in each individual. It is not to encourage one partner to
try to change the other partner.
“This exercise will help you to create a future vision of your relationship. Please read each question, think about an answer
and then write down your response. Each partner can have a different miracle. You will share your miracle with the group in
our next meeting.”
- Check-out
Ask each group member to state one positive word that he or she is thinking or a feeling that he or she is experiencing. The
therapist can begin with an example such as “I’m feeling hopeful.”
Materials
- tape for taping family trees to the wall or a stand to put up family tree flipcharts
(Note: two stands would make it possible to put up flipcharts for both partners, side by side, for further comparison of patterns
and themes.)
- Miracle Question homework sheet
(Note: if a client is unable to write, or if English is not his or her first language, the client may use other methods to
answer the Miracle Question, such as drawing symbols, writing in his or her first language or making brief notes to jog memory.)
Summary
- Check-in
- Discuss comments or issues arising from the last session.
- Stating the Format and Purpose of This Session
- Reviewing Family Trees
- Focus on areas of change and treatment goals.
- Review family trees.
- Allot sufficient time — approximately 10 minutes per person.
- Group leader(s) record common themes and issues on a flipchart — note potential treatment topics and goals.
- Explore patterns and themes with couples.
- Identify one pleasant surprise and one not-so-pleasant surprise.
- Homework (Miracle Question)
- Describe the purpose of the Miracle Question.
- Explain how to do it — give examples of concrete miracles.
- Remind couples they will be sharing their miracles with the group.
- Hand out packages.
- Check-out
|
Tips for Individual Couple Session
- Check-in: Ask the couple to talk about anything that came up for them as a result of the previous session and then ask them
about their week.
- Family Trees: Discussion about the couple’s family trees is briefer in the individual sessions. Extra time can be used to
explore more fully and concretely the impact of past family patterns on the substance use and on the present couple relationship.
As well, extra time can be used to begin to look at possible changes that the couple might want to make in their relationship.
- Use the extra time to explore what pieces of the family history were known to the couple.
- Ask them if they learned anything new or surprising about their own family or about their partners.
Brief Couples Therapy
Acknowledgments
Introduction
References
Appendix A: The Background of the Integrative Model
|
|
Centre for Addiction
Bookmark