Course Location: Heidelberg

Instructor: Dr. Clement Marcantonio

University of Maryland

c/o Faculty Mail

Unit 29216

APO AE 09102

• Goldenberg, H. & Goldenberg, I. (2000) Family Therapy, 5^th ed., Brooks & Cole Publishing.
• Goldenberg, H. & Goldenberg I. (2000) My Self In Family Context: A Personal Journal. Brooks & Cole.
• Satir, V.M. (1985) New People Making, Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior: Books.
• McGoldrick, M. Gerson Randy, & Scellenberger, S. (1999) Genograms, Assessment and Intervention, W.W. Norton & Company, New York.
• Worden, M. (1999). Family Therapy Basics (2nd ed.). Brooks/Cole-Thompson.

Other professional articles as assigned by instructor

Prerequisites: EDCP610 Recommended.

Course Description: This course is designed to give an overview of family systems theories and their relevance to the field of counseling. It will focus mainly on the Systems Approach to family counseling, which is a new way for families to solve problems together. This approach is based on the understanding that human problems are embedded in patterns of human interaction and therefore, treatment of any one person must also include the other significant people in the family. In the words of Dr. Minuchin, "In family therapy we do not say 'you are sick', we say 'you are stuck'. We are caught with each other-I believe that we are on the brink of a new era when child psychiatry will always be family psychiatry, when the family will be seen as a unit of healing."

Course Objectives: Due to the nature of the course subject matter, achieving the course objectives necessitates active involvement of the students in the learning process. While lecturing is appropriate, group and experiential methods are particularly applicable. Such methods as case studies, family simulation, sculpting, family genograms, student presentations are especially relevant for this class.

To achieve the overall course objective the student should:

1. Identify the historical high lights of family therapy.
2. Recognize the personal characteristics of a successful family counselor.
3. Describe and show an understanding of the ten foremost theories of family therapy.
4. Be able to apply relevant principles from family systems theories to the analysis of family problems.
5. Be able to relate the course content to the real world of one's family system.
6. Recognize the importance of assessment and research in family therapy.

Classroom Activities: Genograms, family sculpting, video presentations, case studies and role-playing.

Consultation: The instructor is available on request, if you would like to discuss with him any concerns, issues or anything related to being a student in the counseling program.

1. Family Biography: Write a biography of your family, with special emphasis on your parents' marriage. Include a description of their courtship and changes in their relationship over time. Describe the mutual influence of the different generations on each other. How did the birth and growth of various children affect the marriage? How did the marriage affect various children? What part did the extended family play? You will probably want to look at each parent as an individual, as a member of the couple subsystem, and as a member of the parental subsystem. How has your parents' marriage affected your intimate relationships?
2. Family Analysis: Select a full-length biography (ex Roosevelt, Kennedy or Clinton families) or one of the following movies depicting a fictional family for analysis: The Burning Bed, Ordinary People, The War of the Roses, Kramer vs. Kramer, The Great Santini or On Golden Pond. Your analysis should be based on the theoretical approach of a particular theory presented in class. Basically, it should represent a logical, concise view/explanation of the family as an interactional system. Further guidance will be given on the first day of class.
3. Select a topic of interest in the area of family systems and counseling for a term paper. The instructor requires prior approval of the topic.

Papers are to be written in APA format. Grammar, punctuation, and spelling should be excellent and reflect graduate level ability. Your writing style should make your meaning clear. Extensions are granted only on request and for circumstances beyond the control of the student. To safeguard against loss, always keep a second copy of your papers before giving the original to the instructor. Make the paper as long as necessary to do an excellent, meaningful piece of work, but no longer than 15 pages.

1. Introduction to the course: Adopting a family frame of reference. Family life cycle; family as psychosocial system.

Reading Assignment & Homework:

2. The Bowen Theory, Family Systems Approach: Family is the Matrix out of which people come. A multi-generational view of family is crucial. Goal is differentiation of self from the undifferentiated family ego mass.

Reading Assignment & Homework:

3. Chapter 8 (Goldenberg)

2. Contextual Therapy: Boszormenyi-Nagy

2. The New People Making, Virginia Satir

3. Structural Approach: Salvador Munchin

2. Chapter 10 & 11.

1. Review and Critique of the Communications/Strategic/Milano Approaches

1. New Directions in Family Therapy

2. Assessment techniques in family therapy

I hope it will be a personally rewarding experience for you! It is designed to be highly experiential and, therefore, it requires your personal commitment to want to participate in class exercises and to support class members as they go through the experience of their own families. The weekend format of the course makes it mandatory for all students to devote quality time in preparing the reading material assigned for the respective weekends. Before the first weekend, students are advised to read Chapters 1 & 2 (Goldenberg) Chapters 1, 2, 3 (McGoldrick, genogram, assessment & intervention) and focus on Chapter 8 (Goldenberg).