Family Resilience Theory

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Family Resilience Theory
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Definition of Family Resilience

• The capacity to rebound from adversity,
  strengthened and more resourceful.

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Focus on Family Resilience Processes

• What keeps a family strong, protecting them from
  a crisis?
• What helps them recover?

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ObjectivesYou will be able to

• Define family resilience.
• Compare a strengths and deficit perspective on
  families.
• Apply family resilience concepts to a case
  example.

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Shift in Family Therapy and Research Ball and
the Balloon

• Deficit perspective

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Myths of the Normal Family

• Normal families do not have problems.
• Normal families are traditional families.

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Building Family Resilience Theory

• Family Systems Theory
• Family Stress Theory
• Family Development
• Theory
• Practice Applications

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Thought Question
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Keys to Family Resilience (Froma Walsh)

• Family Belief Systems
• Organizational Patterns
• Communication Processes

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Family Belief Systems

• The core of resilience How families view their
  problems.
• Making meaning of adversity
• Having a positive outlook
• Transcendence and spirituality

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Family Organizational Patterns

• The ways families carry out essential tasks for
  growth and well being.
• Influences response to change.
• example

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Organizational Patterns

• Flexibility
• Connectedness
• Social and Emotional Resources

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Communication Processes

• Clarity
• Open emotional expression
• Collaborative Problem-Solving

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The Paradox of Family Resilience

• Families become stronger as they are tested.
  They may develop new strengths.
• The end of one path is the beginning of another.

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The Paradox of Family Resilience

• At our worst, we may uncover our best.
• In the midst of winter, I learned there was an
  invincible summer.--Albert Camus

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Summary and Plan

• Family resilience focuses on family strengths.
• Beliefs
• Organization
• Communication

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Summary and Plan

• Family resilience is a useful metatheory for
  guiding work with families.
• Examples in reading
• Example in video on Thursday
• Thursday Marvins Room
• Application of theoretical concepts