Question

Imagine you are the counselor for the family in the case described in the Sudden Underachievement see below.

1)Identify the biopsychosocial dimensions of identity for each family member that you would consider in applying multicultural counseling and advocacy strategies.

2} What systemic factors are salient to the client/family resilience and ability to engage in self-advocacy?

Sudden Underachievement :

When a gifted 12-year-old underachieves academically for several weeks, his parents feel panic and seek family counseling. In the first session, the counselor quickly directs attention away from the "problem child" by exploring each family member's perspectives on general family functioning. Informal assessment reveals that the normally high-functioning four-member family has recently faced several challenges: the mother's significant health concerns and difficulty reentering her career; a grandparent's need for elder care; the formerly high-salaried father's unexpected unemployment; and high mortgage payments on their new home. The 9-year-old sibling shows symptoms of trichotillomania--that is, pulling out his own hair, with noticeable hair loss (American Psychiatric Association, 2000). The mother admits to doing some of her underachieving son's homework in order to protect his future. During the next four sessions, the counselor identifies family strengths and explores, among many, the hypothesis that the mother's actions are about control at a time when many aspects of life seem out of control. The family faithfully completes weekly assignments, which are largely geared to helping the family members engage with each other, express and validate feelings, and establish appropriate boundaries (e.g., regarding the son's schoolwork). As boundaries improve and family tension decreases, so does the hair loss and underachievement.

Answer 1

Ans 1) Though a family has closely knitted family members all have different personalities, all face different consequences in the life. The parents are undergoing through lot od psycho and social change, since the high salried father suddently becomes unemployeed, he must have undergone through lot mental unrest, or must have faced a challenge to keep his mind on track, busy . At the same time the neighbours, relatieves must also be commenting about the sudden job loss even the other collagues of his. When a mother a reentering in her career, she has to face lots of challenges such as knowledge transition, to keep onself professional, maintaining work life balance are the tough tasks which a woman is handling. Additonally some social factors like being in office on time, handling guests. All these factors contribute to stress which must have affected health of the parents.The 9 year old boy must not be busy enough or is not having any hobby to keep busy. 12 year old is possibly not made aware of importance of good grades and importance it carries for future adimssions.

Ans 2) Each family member must discuss the expectations from one another, self control is very essential for maintaining peace at home, 12 year old should keep her no. oh hours that she studied and should keep a goal. As well father who was high salaried man should restore the confidence by meditation, light exercize and should look out for another options of career. Mother should also practise some yoga class in order to keep her actions under control, she should know that re entering career is always tough and should engage all the family members in doing some household chores. Discipline, time table would help family members in bringing life back on track.