SOCW 6121 WU Family Conflict and Intervention Discussion
FAMILY CONFLICT AND INTERVENTION
In this Discussion, you review a session involving a social worker, a teen, and her estranged mother. You consider how you would manage the conflict and intervene appropriately.
TO PREPARE
Review the Learning Resources on parental-adolescent conflict and on family practices and interventions.
Access the Social Work Case Studies media and navigate to the Bradley Family case. View the video at the bottom of the page, which shows a social worker in conversation with Tiffani Bradley and her mother. Then, consider the conflict between Tiffani and her mother, how you might address it, and how you might further engage the family.
LEARNING RESOURCES
Required Readings
Toseland, R. W., & Rivas, R. F. (2017). An introduction to group work practice (8th ed.). Pearson.
Chapter 9, “Treatment Groups: Foundation Methods” (pp. 264–294)
Chapter 10, “Treatment Groups: Specialized Methods” (pp. 295–335)
Baird, S. L., & Alaggia, R. (2021). Trauma-informed groups: Recommendations for group work practice. Links to an external site. Clinical Social Work Journal, 49(1), 10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-019-00739-7
Benítez, J. L., Abascal, A., Garrido, M., & Escudero, V. (2020). Building an expanded therapeutic alliance: A task analysis with families trapped in parental?adolescent conflict Links to an external site.. Family Process, 59(2), 409–427.https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12435
Champine, R. B., Matlin, S., Strambler, M. J., & Tebes, J. K. (2018). Trauma-informed family practices: Toward integrated and evidence-based approaches Links to an external site.. Journal of Child & Family Studies, 27(9), 2732–2743. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-018-1118-0
Ezhumalai, S., Muralidhar, D., Dhanasekarapandian R., & Nikketha, B. S. (2018).Group interventions Links to an external site.. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 60, S514–S521. https://doi.org/10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiat...
Varghese, M., Kirpekar, V., & Loganathan, S. (2020). Family interventions: Basic principles and techniques. Links to an external site.Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 62, S192–S200. https://doi.org/10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiat...
Required Media
Walden University, LLC. (2022). Social work case studies Links to an external site. [Interactive media]. Walden University Canvas. https://waldenu.instructure.com
Navigate to the Bradley Family case. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to view the video.
Analyze the conflict between Tiffani Bradley and her mother. Then, explain how you as a social worker would manage conflicts such as this in family sessions. What kind of family intervention would you use with Tiffani and her mother, and why?
Respond to two colleagues who selected a different family intervention than you did. Describe one benefit and one limitation of the intervention your colleague has identified. Then, explain whether you would use it in the case of Tiffani and her mother.
Response required to KOD:
Family Conflict and Intervention: The Bradley Family Case Based on Tiffany Bradley and her mother, Shondra Bradley, it would be essential to address their conflicts to improve their relationship. For example, Tiffany's mother seems to blame her for her recent experiences (Walden University, 2022). However, looking at the family situation, Tiffany appears to have never had a significant parental figure and views her family as distorted. That explains why she views Donald as her guardian angel and savior, even though this relationship with Donald could be potentially dangerous for her. Tiffany is angry with her mother because her mother failed to protect her enough as a parent would protect their child (Walden University, 2022). However, since Tiffany shows that she misses and loves her family and her sister, they could reestablish a healthy relationship with appropriate guidance and help. Therefore, as a practitioner, it would be essential to find positive ways to manage and address the conflict between Tiffany and Shondra.Accordingly, I have identified that psychoeducation is the most appropriate way to help address Tiffany's conflict with her mother. As Varghese et al. (2020) explain, psychoeducation relates to providing relevant information about a client's problems, causes, effects, prognosis, and treatment. Giving informative ideas about the presenting issues can help Tiffany's mother understand the difficulties that her child has passed through. Educating patients is crucial because they will develop a concept about the nature of their problems and how they can manage themselves. In addition, through psychoeducation, the family will learn the importance of re-establishing their relationship. One crucial element of psychoeducation is that it will help the family identify the cause of the presenting problems (Varghese et al., 2020). In that sense, the family will concentrate on identifying the problems' roots rather than on the current issues.
Response to JM:
In the case of Tiffany, she recalls happy memories up until age eight and after that, the family
dynamic changed. There are a lot of things that changed during this time including parental drug use and
parental guidance decreased at this time as well. When Tiffany was fourteen molestations occurred
until she ran away and met Donald. It is obvious that Tiffany has experienced physical and sexual
trauma and currently has PTSD. Growing up Tiffany had normal interactions with family and with
development. When the family dynamic changed at the age of eight it altered the development.
According to Orenstein & Lewis (2021) In looking at Erickson’s stages of development at this point
Tiffany at the age of eight was in the stage for of development which is where the child gains self
Esteem and the basic virtue are competence. Children who do not achieve this skill may see the
The environment is demanding and might develop inferiority. Toseland & Rivas (2017) considers engaging
in family groups to be referred to as a natural group. That is not sponsored by any one person. During the
time that Tiffany turned fourteen this is the stage of development according to Erikson of identity vs role
confusion and the virtue is fidelity (Orenstein & Lewis, 2021). During this stage the person is trying to
find out who they are and when this does not occur, they have role confusion.
In working with Tiffany and Shondra Bradley individualized counseling for each client would be
Beneficial so that each person can process events from their perspective. Tiffany feels that her mom did
Not protect her and Shondra feels that Tiffany just left and started prostitution (Walden University,
The best treatment approach for this family would be Trauma-informed therapy is that there
is a lot of Trauma experienced by Tiffany. Also, currently, Shondra is in a state of denial and blames
prostitution on Tiffany. According to Baird & Alaggia (2021) in trauma-informed therapy, the therapist
must always be alert that the family group does not provide information that will retraumatize the client.
2022). Tiffany tries to share her feelings with her mom, but it does not appear that Tiffany or Shondra have
processed what occurred to them and how it affected the family. Therefore, it would be important to do
individual counseling before family counseling. Varghese et all., (2020) work with families including
providing counseling, education, and coping skills to families with different psychiatric disorders. This is
why it is important for both family members to have an assessment to if there are any underlying
psychiatric disorders that will affect how family therapy is approached with this family.