Family Dynamics & social systems Lecture

What are social systems?

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

  • Examples

    • Parent - child 

    • Pediatric clients – their siblings 

    • Adult clients – their children 

    • Clients – their spouse 

Maintaining Confidentiality 

1. Always seek your client’s permission before disclosing information about them 

2. All information is kept confidential unless given formal permission 

3. Clients should know that when there is a safety/ well being concern, some information can not be kept confidential 

4. Be sure not to share any of your personal details with clients that you do not want others to know 

Types of Dynamics 

• What is a dynamic?

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

  • All dynamics serve a specific interpersonal need (Cole, 2020)

• Productive Dynamics

  • Serves the needs of at least one individual 

  • Are characterized by:

    • Trust 

    • Collaboration 

  • Examples:

    • Collaborative dynamics

    • Problem-solving dynamics

    • Trusting dynamics 

• Maladaptive Dynamics 

  • Inefficient 

  • Generally involve negative feelings and outcomes for at least one person

  • Characterized by:

    • Tension 

  • Examples:

    • Help-seeking and help rejecting 

Managing Maladaptive Dynamics 

• Achieve empathetic understanding of the system 

  • Consider all people involved (not just the client) 

  • What interpersonal needs are being met by the maladaptive behaviors 

  • What’s the history here?

• Make a decision 

  • Remind an objective observer OR attempt to manage it OR attempt to eradicate it

• Take action 

  • Meet with all parties present 

  • Name the dynamic

  • Encourage shared responsibility 

  • Educate on the negative consequences 

  • Think what can be done differently 

Things to Consider

• Is the maladaptive dynamic interfering with therapy?

• Does the client feel that the maladaptive dynamic is impacting QOL?

• What are the potential long-term outcomes of this maladaptive dynamic?

• Who is the decision maker, who is engaged, what is the tone of the groups, dynamics that support the client, maladaptive dynamics 

Using Interpersonal Reasoning 

1. Anticipate resistance to changing the maladaptive dynamic 

2. Select a mode change 

3. Consider using the empathizing mode as it is very reliable regardless of the nature of the maladaptive dynamic