Overview: Students will present a case study based on the Pearson family from “This is Us”. “This Is Us” is a unique show. It details the lives of the Pearson family over a span of 35 years. In order to complete the case study assignment, I would like you to approach the family from the perspective of current day (when Randall, Kate and Kevin are adults). When you consider the family from this perspective you will be able to use all the information shared in the show. It will be as if you’ve had 10 sessions with the family and fully appreciate all the family history and dynamics. I realize that as adults the family members do not actually live in the same city. However, we are going to pretend that they can attend family therapy together on a regular basis. Your primary clients are Rebecca, Kate, Kevin and Randall. They are seeking treatment to resolve the conflict between members of the family and improve overall communication. This is a complicated family system. As such, it is a perfect case to present in clinical supervision. Imagine that I am your clinical supervisor. You are presenting this case to me in clinical supervision. Obviously, we cannot meet face to face; therefore, you are going to create a PowerPoint presentation using the outline below. Please submit the completed assignment to the Assignment folder.
Purpose: To prepare students to present case studies for group or individual clinical supervision.
Assignment Outline:
1. Identifying/Demographic Information (2 points): (2-3 slides)
• Describe family members living at home or current living situation for those not home. Comment on members of extended family.
• Provide descriptive data such as ages, marriages, and employment.
• Provide other case specific pertinent descriptive data such as culture, race, and religion.
• Provide brief/ overview of family background such as recent history, any relevant medical or developmental concerns, intergenerational themes, family dynamics, and acculturation concerns.
2. Family Relationships/Dynamics (2 points): (2-3 slides)
• Discuss family alliances/coalitions and their impact- the power structure in the family system.
• Discuss family boundaries—structure, communication, and interpersonal involvement with each other; functional boundaries; closeness versus lack of clear boundaries; degree and expression of closeness among family members; cultural considerations and variations that may be present.
• Discuss family supports and their impact such as emotional supports and social supports
3. Family strengths (1 points): (1-2 slides)
• Individual members; extended family; family as a whole
4. Summarize the problems/challenges the family has encountered (2 points): (2-3 slides)
• Discuss current stressors—ecological, developmental, and familial and their impact.
i. Examples: Interpersonal conflicts, dysfunctional behaviors, environmental, cultural, victimization, mental health influences, etc. and their impact.
• Discuss past stressors that precipitate, maintain, and exacerbate current family difficulties such as those that are ecological, developmental, and familial and their impact.
i. Examples: Interpersonal conflicts, dysfunctional behaviors, environmental, cultural, victimization, mental health influences, etc. and their impact.
• Discuss problem solving and its impact- what has the family done to try to address problems; what worked; satisfaction with what worked, etc.
5. Identify any high-risk behaviors (substance abuse, domestic violence, emotional abuse, child abuse/neglect, criminal history, suicide risk, self-harm, etc.) within the family (1 point):.(1 slide)
6. Goal of family therapy: (1 slide) (2 points)
• Write 2 objectives using SMART criteria that can help this family meet their goal
7. Spelling/grammar/ APA (1 point)
