A Reflection Of The Family Systems Theory

I began this program during the spring semester of 2014 at which time I enrolled in the working with family’s course. Unaware how much I would relate to the family systems theory in regards to my personal life. Moving forward I have been able to connect many situations during my practicum experience to this theory as well. While completing practicum one I witnessed quite a bit of, “Differentiation of Self”, most of the boys were placed in a detention facility because they were seeking approval of others and most often it was their father or father figure. One youth in particular stands out to me, he was raised by his father who was a known gang member and his mother was estranged. He believed the other boys were inferior to him and would

“Emotional cutoff” and “sibling position dynamics” resonate through this process. A counselling session with a brother and sister because the lost their dad suddenly showed characteristics of both. She is 17 and he is 13 years old. He will not speak or acknowledge anyone within the grief center. During the session his sister would attempt to engage and speak for him. She is a straight A student about to graduate high school with her associates degree. I observed as she created a collage of words from a magazine, she cut each letter out with precision and glued them to the paper aligned straight showing she is conscientious. She advised that prior to their dad’s death, her brother was outgoing and never missed an opportunity to have fun with his friends. Since the death he has spent most of his time alone. His sister continued to discuss the trouble he now causes at school and has violent outbursts at home; these acts place a great deal of focus on to him. Although these are characteristics of grief, however, Bowen also describes these traits as being the youngest sibling in a family. The short time I spent with this brother and sister, I witnessed a mild emotional cut off with this boy and his family as he rarely speaks about his father, to anyone. I also met a young girl who had lost her mother, she showed no emotion toward her family. She never spoke about her mom during my observation and family members advised that she does not at home either. Her custodial grandmother never explained death to her; she just stated that her mother was away. There is good reason to believe the child is aware that this is not true, it was advised that she shows little affection toward her family and only expresses her needs for survival and never emotional. It is disappointing that I will not be able to see them evolve through therapy; the grandmother is