Alcoholism is currently the most widespread addiction worldwide, and an occasional consumption of it is seen as an aggravating factor in other psychopathological conditions with high risk for illness, disability and mortality (Onciu, Jordache and Pacala, 2013).
Pacala et al. (2013), indicates that alcoholics tend to lose their ability to exercise self control, thereby increasing their risk for aggressive behavior with the slightest provocation. In addition, alcohol decreases the ability of individuals to function effectively in the cognitive sphere, and as such, in order to reduce alcohol’s impact on the family, effective interventions must be implemented.
Thomlison (2010) explains that the genogram is a pictorial chart of people involved in a three generational relationship system, which displays family history, membership, births, deaths, illnesses and other relevant information. Moreover, Wright and Leahey (as cited in Thomlison, 2010) specifies that the genogram provides four times as much information about social structure, health problems, family history, family structural and relational patterns as interviews.
Family therapy seeks to improve the individual and collective awareness, communication among family members, the functioning of the family and its individual members. It also focuses on developing goals and skills used in social interactions among each participatory family member, not just the identified patient.
This paper seeks to create a genogram, which traces and identifies the pathology of an alcoholic patient namely Richard Doe; in addition, it will provide meaningful family therapies to aid with intervention.
Shalay and Brownlee (2007) explain that the blende...
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...egal and forensic issues for chronic
alcoholism. Acta Medica Transilvanica, 18(2), 309-311.
Rehm, J. (2011). The risks associated with alcohol use and alcoholism. Alcohol Research &
Health, 34(2), 135-143.
Shalay, N., & Brownlee, K. (2007). Narrative family therapy with blended families. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 17-30.
Soyez, V., Tatrai, H., Broekaert, E., & Bracke, R. (2004). The implementation of contextual
therapy in the therapeutic community for substance abusers: a case study. Journal Of Family Therapy, 26(3), 286-305. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6427.2004.00284.x
Thomlison, B. (2010). Family Assessment Handbook: An Introduction and Practical Guide to
Family Assessment. (3rd ed.), USA: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.
Weiner, I.B., & Reedheim, D.K. (2003). Handbook of Psychology, Clinical Psychology. New
Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated
Experiential Family Therapy is a therapy that encourages patients to address subconscious issues through actions, and role playing. It is a treatment that is used for a group of people in order to determine the source of problem in the family (Gurman and Kniskern, 2014). Experiential Family Therapy has its strengths and weaknesses. One of the strengths of this therapy is that, it focuses on the present and patients are able to express their emotions on what is happening to them presently. The client will have time to share everything about his/her life experiences one on one without any fears. As a result, it helps the client in the healing process because, he/she is able to express their feelings freely and come out of the problem. Therefore, in this type of therapy, the clients are deeply involved in solving their issues. It helps clients to scrutinize their individual connections and to initiate a self-discovery through therapy, on how their relationships influence their current behaviors (Gurman and Kniskern, 2014). By examining their personal relationships through experiential family therapy, family members are able to
In the article “Children of Alcoholics” produced by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, the author explains the negative effect of parental alcoholism on their children’s emotional wellbeing, when he writes, “Children with alcoholic parents are more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety and/or depression, antisocial behavior, relationship difficulties, behavioral problems, and/or alcohol abuse. One recent study finds that children of drug-abusing fathers have the worst mental health issues (Children of Alcoholics 1). Walls reflects upon her childhood experiences in which her father would become drunk and not be able to control his behavior, as she writes, “After working on the bottle for a while, Dad turned into an angry-eyed stranger who threw around furniture and threatened to beat up Mom or anyone else who got in his way. When he’d had his fill of cussing and hollering and smashing things up, he’d collapse” (Walls 23). The Walls children, who frequently encounter their father’s abusive behavior, are affected mentally in the same way that national studies have shown. Jeanette Walls describes how, after drinking, her father’s behavior becomes cruel and intolerable through his use of profanity, threats, and angry, even violent, actions. In a conventional family, a parent has the responsibility of being a role model to influence their children in a positive way as they develop. Unfortunately, in the Walls family and other families with alcoholic parents, children are often subject to abuse and violence, which places them at risk, not only physically, but mentally. Rex’s irrational behavior when he is drunk is detrimental to the children’s upbringing, causing them to lose trust in their parents, have significantly lower self-esteem and confidence, and feel insecure. Rex’s behavior contributes to Jeanette’s
Gladding, S. T. (2010). Family therapy: History, theory, and practice (5th Ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson
Chan, J. G. (2003). An Examination of Family-Involved Approaches to Alcoholism Treatment. Family Journal, 11(2), 129-138. doi:10.1177/1066480702250149
...n all family members get involved in trying to help. By the individual’s family being apart of their therapy session, it shows how much their family members care for them and want them to get help with whatever issues they may be having. This is very important because it is a sign of love and it is showing the support that they have for one another. Therapist have also found that during strategic family therapy, they can help all family members with helping to encourage each other as well as create rules and interactions that are psychological healthy for all family members who are involved. It will make it easier for the family members to all get along and understand each other. When one person in the family is having issues, the other members should take the time to talk to one another and help each other out, especially the family member who is in need of help.
Frey and Schonbeck explain that it is estimated that over 76 million people worldwide are affected by alcohol abuse or dependence. The chance of having an alcoholic in one’s life is very high. Children that grow up in an environment with an alcoholic may increase that child’s chance of becoming an alcoholic themselves. In the United States, the most commonly abused drug among youth is alcohol. Even though the legal drinking age is 21, nearly 20% of all alcohol consumed in the United States is by people under the legal age (83). In fact, when youth start drinking at social events in their teenage years, they are greatly increasing their risk of developing alcohol problems (85). Alcoholism can affect people of all ages. Furthermore, some experts try to differentiate between alcoholics and social drinkers. Typically, they base this off of five categories. Social drinkers do not drink alone. They consume minimal amounts of alcohol during social functions. Situational drinkers may not ever drink unless they are stressed out. These drinkers are more likely to drink by themselves. Problem drinkers can be described as a drinker that alcohol has caused problems in their life. However, they usually respond to advice given by others. Binge drinkers are out of control in their alcohol consumption. They may drink until they pass out or worse. Alcoholic drinkers have found that their lives have become unmanageable and that they are completely powerless over alcohol (84). Alcoholics should be cautious of their surroundings to prevent
Walsh, William M, Keenan, Robert (1997), ‘Narrative Family Therapy’, The Family Journal: Counselling and Therapy for Couples and Families, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 332-336.
The familial pattern of alcoholism had a lasting impact on me through the awareness that I have a predisposition to alcoholism. In order for me not to become addicted to alcohol, I would need to be vigilant about
Slutske, W. S., D’Onofrio, B. M., Turkheimer, E., Emery, R. E., Harden, K. P., Heath, A. C., et al. (2008). Searching for an environmental effect of parental alcoholism on offspring alcohol use disorder: A genetically informed study of children of alcoholics. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 117, 534-551.
For Adult Children of Alcoholics, surviving their families becomes the point of existence. The fortunate may be able to draw support from a supportive adult, and may emerge with fewer difficulties than their brothers and sisters. The majority, however, have to “make do.” Some spend lonely hours in their rooms wishing only to vanish behind the woodwork. Others attempt to rescue the foundering vi...
Gehart, D. (2014). Mastering competencies in family therapy: A practical guide to theories and clinical case documentation. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
About 1.3 million adults received treatment for an alcohol use disorder at a specialized facility just in 2013. According to the Proquest database, alcoholism is commonly referred to as the excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. The world health organization estimates there are 140 million alcoholics worldwide. Alcoholism can lead to ca crashes, crimes, violence, abuse, reduced workplace activity and illness. Also according to centers for disease control and prevention, excessive alcohol use is the third leading lifestyle-related cause of death in America. This paper will examine the pro, con, and my viewpoint on whether or not alcoholism is caused by a lack of willpower or not.
Nichols, M. P. (2010). Family therapy concepts and methods (9 ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Nichols, M. P. (2011). The essentials of family therapy. Boston, Ma.: Allyn and Bacon. (Original work published 5th)
Alcoholism is a disease that affects many people in the United States today. It not only affects the alcoholic, but also their family, friends, co-workers, and eventually total strangers. The symptoms are many, as are the causes and the effects.