Family Dynamics & social systems Lecture

Social Systems

Two or more people who are interacting in a defined way (Cole, 2020).

Examples of Social Systems

Parent-child, pediatric clients with their siblings, adult clients with their children, clients and their spouse.

Maintaining Confidentiality

Always seek your client’s permission before disclosing information about them; all information is kept confidential unless given formal permission.

When confidentiality cannot be maintained

Clients should know that some information cannot be kept confidential when there is a safety or well-being concern.

Maladaptive Dynamics

Inefficient dynamics characterized by negative feelings and outcomes for at least one person, often involving tension.

Productive Dynamics

Dynamics that serve the needs of at least one individual, characterized by trust and collaboration.

Managing Maladaptive Dynamics

Achieve empathetic understanding of the system and consider all people involved, identifying interpersonal needs being met by maladaptive behaviors.

What to consider with maladaptive dynamics

Assess if the maladaptive dynamic is interfering with therapy and its potential impact on quality of life.

Interpersonal Reasoning

Anticipate resistance to changing the maladaptive dynamic and select a mode change, such as empathizing for reliability.

What is a dynamic?

The unique quality, emotional tone, and specific interpersonal events that make up an interaction between individuals.

Examples of Productive Dynamics

Collaborative dynamics, problem-solving dynamics, trusting dynamics.

Examples of Maladaptive Dynamics

Help-seeking and help-rejecting dynamics.