Adult relationship ruptures, positive psychology, cultural sensitivity, disability culture, child–parent relationship therapy and interviewing Monica McGoldrick

Abstract

The first paper is 'Working with adult families of origin: On the nature of rupture and repair' by Kate Cordukes and colleagues from The Bouverie Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne. This describes working with families of origin where all members are adults by addressing unresolved family ruptures and traumas, disrupted developmental processes and exploring new pathways to repair. The therapist validates the adult child's experience of rupture, contextualises parent histories, develops new narratives, clears emotional barriers for giving and receiving care, and posits a more ideal family structure around independence and connection. This article makes a significant contribution to family therapy with adult families with special relevance for practitioners working in the adult mental health system.

The second paper is 'Envisaging a thriving future: The integration of positive psychology into brief psychotherapy and family therapy practice' by Richard Lakeman from Southern Cross University, Gold Coast, Queensland. It incorporates Seligman's PERMA model—encompassing Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning and Accomplishment into a brief therapy solution-focused and narrative therapy approach. A practical means of externalising a person's PERMA profile by representing it on the outline of their hand is illustrated. The integrative approach helps clients to shift from problem-focused to solution-focused thinking and facilitates client motivation and satisfaction by building a strong therapeutic alliance and collaborative goal setting. It has application in acute mental health care settings helping clients to develop a sense of agency and optimism, enhance their wellbeing and allow conversations towards solutions.

The third paper is 'Breaking the “culture of silence”: Exploring therapist perspectives of culturally sensitive systemic psychotherapy in contested socio-political contexts – a Northern Ireland case study by Christiana Young (London) and Suzanne Mooney (Belfast) from the UK. This qualitative study explores the practice of cultural sensitivity in systemic psychotherapy via in-depth interviews with five experienced systemic psychotherapists in Northern Ireland (NI). While it found similarities with other UK regions, nuanced differences are also noted in the NI context given the protracted history of sectarian division, political conflict and more limited immigration. Here, a key theme is self-imposed ‘silence’ with regard to one's own religious/cultural identity in the context of political conflict. The authors propose experiential training for systemic therapists grounded in the trainee's local sociodemographic context to promote an understanding of intersectionality and power relations and to develop a capacity for critical reflexivity and sociocultural attunement.

The fourth paper is Parenting children with Down syndrome: A systemic look at the disability experience by Kaitlin Jeter and Michael Hardin from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena California, USA. As the authors argue, despite the traumatic and life-altering experience of many families living with child disability, current marriage and family therapy training programs include minimal input or supervision in this area, which prompts therapists to consider it outside their scope of practice. This phenomenological study interviewed married couples to observe the unique experience of parenting a child with Down syndrome (DS). It identified several themes including ambiguous loss and increased risk of relational/psychological distress in relation to issues of diagnosis, resources, parenting, discrimination, meaning making and acculturation versus assimilation in disability culture. Several therapeutic approaches are discussed including structural family therapy, trauma work and mindfulness to assist couples and families navigating life with DS.

The fifth paper is 'The effect of child parent relationship therapy (CPRT)-based play support on mothers' stress and acceptance, and child behaviours in children who witness domestic violence: A randomised controlled study' by Yurdagül gunaydin and Handan zincir from Turkey. CPRT is an evidence-based intervention that aims to improve the parent–child relationship, strengthen parenting skills and reduce children's behavioural problems, which has been applied across a variety of populations. This community-school-based study of a 10-week CPRT-focused training program for children who have witnessed domestic violence identified several benefits such as reduced parental stress levels, increased parental acceptance of the child's experience and feelings and a reduction in their behavioural problems. It highlights the importance of including both mothers and children in the therapeutic intervention.

The final paper, 'Genograms, culture, love and sisterhood: A conversation with Monica Mc Goldrick', from Deisy Amorin-Woods continues the journal's 'Interviews and dialogues' series. Monica is a giant in the field of family therapy widely known for her seminal work with family genograms; loss and the family life cycle; mapping family relationships and generational patterns; and incorporating culture, race, ethnic and gender concerns. This interview provides a historical context for Monica's thinking and work by describing the Multicultural Family Institute she and others founded in 1972 and The Women of Stonehenge Project, which addressed the intersectionality of gender with race, social class and sexual orientation and challenged patriarchal and sexist structures. The interview takes place online, and the video version will be available on the journal's website with a link to the YouTube channel.

In future issues, look out for groundbreaking interviews with other seminal figures in the family therapy field including Froma Walsh and Nora Bateson as well as a special series on family therapy across contexts and cultures (Africa, Japan, China, India, South America).

In the next issue in December, we have a special issue, 'Working with vulnerable children and families in the context of trauma, neglect and abuse' compiled by Jackie Amos and her team from Adelaide, South Australia.