Families Meet the Challenge of Change Through Therapy

Families Meet the Challenge of Change Through Therapy

Abstract

Families can be the utmost the majority source of support, comfort and love. But its members can also be the biggest contributors to pain, stress, and grief. A health crisis, job loss or trouble with children may threaten to tear a family apart. Family therapy may help families endure the test of their relationships. It can also improve how the family works together.

Families Meet the Challenge of Change Through Therapy

Family counseling promotes healthy relationships and helps families meet the challenge of change. Knox and Schacht (2005) say that the traditional family has changed over the years in America. A half a century ago, midlife for most people was similar. They also say that many people stayed married to the same person throughout their life. Today there are many blended families of step children. Yet, many marriages do work. According to Knox and Schacht (2005) some partners stay together for 40 or 50 years. They say that the peak of their marriage is in the middle years. Even the happiest couples have their ups and downs. This can cause stress in family life.

"Middle age couples refer to their spouse as their best friend. The secret of a lasting

marriage is common goals interests and liking one another" Knox & Schacht, 2005, p. 202). At some point people become are more individualistic, spend less time together, become more selfish, and they enter into a marriage with the idea that if it does not work, get a divorce. Romantic feelings disappear over time. According to Knox and Schacht (2005) divorce is hard on women who have been housewives during the marriage. They may lack job skills or face prejudice being older workers. Their lives virtually change overnight with divorce. They would rather seek family counseling than give up on their marriage.

The writer interviewed Karen Blevins, PsyD, LMFT, regarding the empty nest syndrome. According to Dr. Blevins, it is a major transition in middle adulthood. Children grow up and go away to college, get married, join the military, or get a job. Parents experience unhappiness, worry, loneliness, and depression. For most people the empty nest syndrome is more a myth than reality. The feelings of sadness are usually temporary. Married and unmarried people can put more time into work or hobbies that they could not do when the children were at home. The house stays neater. Then there are the boomerang children. They return