The main goals for this family are to open the lines of communication. Communication needs to be restored between Harold and Shirley, Shirley and the kids, Harold and Ben, and Shirley and Barbara. The focus -- or the triangulation -- that Ben seems to be facing also needs to be stopped. A very clear sign that family therapy was helping this family would be Harold and Shirley taking control of the family once again -- gaining control of the household and allowing their children to feel safe enough to communicate with them. Harold has his own issues going on with being laid off and worrying about money, however, these are not things that he needs to "swallow" on his own. One specific intervention would include, as mentioned before, de-triangulation of Ben, as it seems like his "acting out" seems to be seen as the problem as opposed to other things that are going on in the household. Some psychoeducation about service members and problems that arise when readjusting back home seems to be in order as well. Perhaps (if a diagnosis of PTSD is made for Shirley) it would be wise to psychoeducate the family about ways to help Shirley and help them become more sensitive to certain issues or ways of behaving that she may have developed since being away. Some communication education would also be helpful for this family as would putting the family back into a hierarchical order. In the case of this family, the grandmother may be asserting too much power in the family. If she is and she intends to stay in the house, then she really...
Perhaps the fact that she has loaned Harold money has caused her to feel that she has more power than she actually does. Some more psychoeducation may be in order for Harold regarding depression as he seems to be struggling with a bit of depression due to the loss of his job, however, it is not clear as of right now if he fits the criteria to make an official diagnosis for either Major Depressive Disorder or Dysthymia.
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