Reference no: EM133702360

Problem

Case study:

The Mercer family comes to therapy with you because the parents are concerned that their adopted 16-year-old daughter Emily doesn't seem to want to interact with the family as the others do. The mother (who strikes you as controlling) says that her daughter "acts out" by staying out past her curfew. The father (who seems loving but timid) admits that he misses the way he and Emily used to interact ("We had such fun together," he says with a wistful smile), and now he finds it hard to want to spend any time with her at all. Emily doesn't say a word and keeps her iPod on as the others talk. Her brother (also somewhat timid) doesn't say much beyond that he thinks it's cool that the family is in therapy together, to which Emily smirks and says, "Yes, I am the stranger in this perfect family," to which the mother replies, "No, you are not a stranger, but you're often the bull and we're the china shop."

Using the above scenario and the six variables of S-EFT, answer questions as a S-EFT therapist/clinician.

A. What thoughts come to mind about the identified patient, Emily?

B. How will the clinician help the family realize that all together, they are the "patient"?

C. How will the clinician use symbolic language to help the family members understand important aspects of themselves both as individuals and as a family unit?

D. Invent a scenario in which a clinician might meaningfully activate stress within the family system.

E. Develop a scenario to show how a clinician can help the family use its symbols to have a meaningful emotional experience in support of growth.

F. Invent a scenario that would indicate growth/change had been achieved in the Mercer family.