Emotion-focused couples therapy assists in identifying, processing and expressing partners’ emotional experiences within the context of their relationship. Emotions are treated differentially depending on which emotion is expressed and how it functions for both the individual and the couple (Goldman and Greenberg, 2013). Emotion-focused therapy is rooted in attachment theory, using the lense of early relationship bonds to conceptualize the couple’s relational conflict issues. These early relationships influence one’s identity and self-soothing practices (Goldman and Greenberg, 2013). Terminal illness and end-stage cancer can threaten the attachment bond that creates safety and security within couples. Emotion-focused couples therapy has been shown to be effective when working with couples where one partner is facing terminal illness (Tie and Poulsen, 2013) or end-stage cancer (McLean and Nissim, 2007; McLean, Walton, Rodin, Esplen, & Jones, 2013). Partners who are experiencing depression along with marital distress have also improved with emotion-focused couples therapy (McLean and Nissim, 2007), showing rapid recovery with spousal support and compassion (Gurman, 2008). Considering the case of Skyler and Walter, Emotion-focused couples therapy would be the most effective in alleviating their current relational conflicts that are influenced by Walter’s cancer diagnosis, Skyler’s depression, and both partners’ attachment experiences in early life as well as in their relationship. Attachment theory has had an immense influence on Emotion-focused therapy’s understanding of the nature of close relationships (Gurman, 2008). Attachment theory suggests that the earliest childhood experiences with parents or primary caregiver... ... middle of paper ... ... to seek therapy due to continuous arguments during the past year. They have been together for almost 20 years and have a 17 year old son, Walt Jr., and an infant daughter Holly. About a year ago Walter was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, and has recently finished participating in treatments. Before his diagnosis, Walter lost his job as a high school chemistry teacher. Shortly after his behavior began to be erratic and aggressive; Skyler believes that Walter has become involved in some illegal work. Skyler described feeling trapped and scared in the relationship. She is currently financially dependant on Walter. Skyler reports feeling depressed for the past six weeks and had recently attempted to drown herself. Counseling is Walter’s final effort to save his marriage before Skyler decides she would like to leave him and take their children with her.
According to the research done by Susan Johnson, “emotionally focused couples therapy (EFT), now recognized as one of the most researched and most effective approaches to changing distressed marital relationships” (Johnson, Hunsley, 1999). The effects on this therapy show that it continues to be steady over time for the relationship as well (Halchuk, Makinen, Johnson, 2010). This approach has a focus on the disclosure of feelings, something that seems difficult for the Jarrett family. Beth, in particular, seems to avoid most emotional contact with both her husband and son, especially when the conversation involves talking about how they feel about Bucky’s death. One perfect example of Beth avoiding her emotions over her son’s death is the story Calvin tells about her making him change his shirt for the funeral. She would rather worry about what he is wearing than the pain that her son’s death has caused. It is as though Beth sees emotions as almost weak and something that is not helpful in overcoming her son’s death. In fact, we see many times when both Beth and Calvin avoid having arguments, instead of saying how they feel. They seem to repress most emotions because they do not want to deal with their relationship on top of everything else that is going on, even though it would help them to express how they are
Weger Jr., H. and Polcar, L. E., (2002). Attachment Style and Person-Centered Comforting. Western Journal of Communication, 66(1) (Winter 2002), 84-103.
Walter is confronted by the event of having another child when his wife, Ruth, shares the information about what has happened and what her plans are to resolve and continue the scenario. Walter brings to topic of his importance to the scenario, and decides to break away from the event and think of his answer towards his wife’s information and response. He later is shown the understanding of his wife by the reaction of his mother, who questions his standing on how his father would have reacted. This brings Walter to think of why he should change and not walk out on times of importance. Walter discovers that his turmoil of drinking and appearance on the topic could lose the life of his newly developing child.
Emotionally focused therapy is designed to be short-term in structure. Developed principally by Dr. Susan Johnson, the main target of this type of therapy is couples and is focused on expressing emotions. The primary goal of emotionally focused therapy is to create a safe and long-lasting bond between romantic partners and family members while expanding and restructuring significant emotional responses. Partakers in emotionally focused therapy are emboldened to express their thoughts and emotions in a safe environment without fear of judgment. In this paper, we will discuss a therapy session between Sue Johnson and a couple, Leslie and Scott.
The first topic that came up in the interview relates to idea of attachment theory. Attachment theory explains the human’s way of relating to a caregiver and receives an attachment figures relating to the parent, and children. In addition, the concept explains the confidence and ability for a child to free explore their environment with a place to seek support, protection, and comfort in times of distress (Levy, Ellison, Scott, and Bernecker, 2010, p. 193). Within attachment theory explains different types of attachment styles that children experience during early childhood. These attachment styles affect the relationships they continue to build in adulthood. The best attachment style happens when the parent is attuned to the child during his or her early childhood called secure attachment (Reyes, 2010, p. 174). In order for complete secure attachment, the child needs to feel safe, seen, and soothed. Any relationship that deviates from this model represents the anxious or insecure attachment. This means that parents or caregivers are inconsistently responsive to the children. Children who have these parents are usually confused and insecure. Some children experience a dismissive attachment where they
Attachments are formed with parents; this contributes to give a sense of who we are and who we will become in later life. However where these attachments are broken the child needs to have a secure attachment established with an alternative adult care giver,...
It describe the relation between a parent’s behavioral, emotional and interpersonal spheres of existence and its influence on the children .This movie gives an honest portrayal of a long-term marriage falling apart and subsequently ending in divorce. Movie highlights the difference in which the divorce impacts the older child, the younger child as well as the parent’s relationship. The divorce happens at a critical time in children’s lives when their self-identities and sexuality are developing. The parents are also going through some sexual awakenings of their own. The wife has had an affair for four years and is not hesitant in dating new men right after the separation. Following the divorce Bernad also begins dating one of his students. Both the kids have expressed issues with their parents’ sexuality. Walt thinks his mother is immoral in bringing her boyfriend into the house and has a secret attraction towards the father’s girlfriend. Walt falls into adolescence true love, but denies to self, because his father urges him to play in
Cassidy, J., & Shaver, P.R. (1999). Handbook of attachment: Theory, research, and clinical applications. New York: The Guilford Press.
In the background Skyler is singing a lullaby that she sang in season two in the episode "Phoenix". Later in the episode, Walter tells Jesse that the exact moment he wished he could of died was when Skyler was singing "Hush little baby don't say a word..." because it would have been perfect. At that time there was enough money for the kids college tuition, home bills, and more. Also, Skyler had no idea about the drugs at that time either. He says that now there is no end in sight. He has to cook now to help his brother-in-law and he will probably have to cook for the foreseeable
The attachment theory, presented by Mary Ainsworth in 1969 and emerged by John Bowlby suggests that the human infant has a need for a relationship with an adult caregiver, and without a subsequent, development can be negatively impacted (Hammonds 2012). Ainsworth proposes that the type of relationship and “attachment” an infant has with the caregiver, can impact the social development of the infant. As stated by Hammonds (2012), attachment between a mother and a child can have a great impact on the child 's future mental
Infant attachment is the first relationship a child experiences and is crucial to the child’s survival (BOOK). A mother’s response to her child will yield either a secure bond or insecurity with the infant. Parents who respond “more sensitively and responsively to the child’s distress” establish a secure bond faster than “parents of insecure children”. (Attachment and Emotion, page 475) The quality of the attachment has “profound implications for the child’s feelings of security and capacity to form trusting relationships” (Book). Simply stated, a positive early attachment will likely yield positive physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive development for the child. (BOOK)
Walter lives with his mother, sister, wife and child Travis. After the receival of a life insurance check from the deceased Walter Lee Senior, Mama makes a decision to give it to Walter to make him feel like the man of the house. She places endless trust into her son; she gives him the money that is needed for his sisters school, and the house payments. She has high hopes Walter would not let her down by the use of it for something that goes against her values. Unfortunately, as he receives the money one can see how hastily he works to use it for a meer liquor store as he confesses his wrongdoings: “Mama… I never went to the bank at all… It’s all gone.” (Hansberry 129). Prior to this moment, Mama had asked Walter to
In family therapy sessions, therapists encounter unique dilemmas when only one partner enters into therapy because only one viewpoint of the problem is provided (American Psychological Association, 2002). This is what presents itself for us today. A husband has asked for help in protecting himself and his children from his wife’s outbursts. His family consists of his wife of 11 years, Angelina; his son, John, age nine; and his delicate daughter, Jackie, age seven. Since this client is reserved and uncomfortable within the therapy session as demonstrated by his folded arms and leaning back in his chair away from the therapist, the therapist will begin by using client-centered, therapy-based questions (Rogers, 1946). Post-modern family therapy will incorporate various styles of therapy depending on what a therapist determines is most helpful at any one point during the therapy process (Nichols, 2008). Combining client-centered and experiential therapies would be a logical pairing in this situation (Elliott & Freire, 2007). We will examine the initial interview.
Norton, J. (2003). The Limitations of Attachment Theory for Adult Psychotherapy. Psychotherapy in Australia, 10(1), 58-63.
“Attachment is as essential for the child’s psychological well-being as food is for physical health,” claimed Bowlby, B (2001, p.54). Bowlby claimed in this statement that attachment is a necessary thing that a child needs in order to develop healthily. There is evidence from other theorists who support Bowlby’s theory of attachment, such as Harlow, whose approach is based upon a caregiver’s sensitivity and attachment. Ainsworth is another theorist whose research supports Bowlby’s theory of attachment. In her strange situation study, she tested for the attachment types and what effects they had on a child’s behaviour.