NURS 3130 Chapter Notes - Chapter 14: Family Therapy, Murray Bowen, Nuclear Family
Document Summary
Families can be viewed as a system often consisting of several generations with multiple health care needs. In a mentally healthy family, members live in harmony among themselves and within society. These families support and nurture their members throughout their lives. However, stress and illnesses can negatively affect a family"s overall mental health. Ideally, families can access health care services in an integrated system where primary health services and mental health care are linked. A family becomes dysfunctional when interactions, decisions, or behaviors interfere with the positive development of the family and its individual members. Most families have periods of dysfunction such as during a crisis or stressful situation when the coping skills are not available. Assessment of the family"s psychological domain focuses on the family"s development and life cycle, communication patterns, stress and coping abilities, and problem-solving skills. One aim of the assessment is to understand the relationships within the family.
