FLC Stage Adolescents

Families With Adolescents Stage : 

Families With Adolescents Stage Tasks and Challenges

Basic Universal Tasks : 

Basic Universal Tasks Task Transitions (Traditional Family Structures) From protecting young children (centripetal) To preparing young adults for the world

Changes at Multiple Generational Levels : 

Changes at Multiple Generational Levels Adolescents dealing with biological, cognitive and social changes Parents entering midlife Grandparents dealing with retirement/old age

Adolescent Sexuality Moore, Miller, Sugland, Morrison, Glei & Blumenthal, 2000 * : 

Adolescent Sexuality Moore, Miller, Sugland, Morrison, Glei & Blumenthal, 2000 * Most young people in the United States begin having sexual intercourse during their teenage years. 1/2 of females and nearly two-thirds of males have had intercourse by their 18th birthday. In the last several decades there have been substantial increases in the proportion of adolescents who report sexual activity at each year of age. Increases have been greatest among females, especially among young females. Thus, more than twice as many females ages 14, 15, and 16 are sexually active now, compared with young women of the same ages just 15 years ago. Moreover, on average, there are seven years for women and ten years for men between first intercourse and first marriage..

Parental System Changes and Adjustments : 

Parental System Changes and Adjustments Adolescent’s thrust toward independence Demands family/parental role shifts Less Authority and More Guidance Structural shifts Impending launching period may result in parents renegotiating their marriage Can activate unresolved conflicts Introduction of sexuality into family system Introduction of diverse values into family system

Family Emotional System : 

Family Emotional System Parent(s) may become reactive as rules and values are questioned Ethnic minority families experience their teen as disloyal when teen takes on Western values and behavior Adolescents often question hypocrisy of parents Teens often test parents value system concerning: Social justice issues Political and social ideals

Factors Affecting Decision to Have Sex : 

Factors Affecting Decision to Have Sex Environment – Peer Group, Media Images Age of partner Perceived family support Lack of education Confusing messages from parents Overly strict or overly permissive Lacking familial warmth and love

Sexual Preferences : 

Sexual Preferences Adolescence is a time of experimentation Adolescents are not only trying on different roles but may be experimenting with attractions to same sex partners Adolescence is a time that many come to terms with their same sex attractions and preferences Confusion among parents whether: normal developmental phase or true identification as gay – Parents can be in denial or reject teen.l

Grandparent System : 

Grandparent System Grandparents have own needs Making meaning of their lives Planning for retirement Parents many be sandwiched generation Needs of aging parents Needs of adolescent children

Larger Context : 

Larger Context Adolescence is and has been viewed through lens of dominant culture How minority cultures or diverse cultures might have unique challenges Example: Stigma among African American and Other Minority Urban Youth Angry Black Youth (male) Gangs whose membership made up of one cultural group generalized to all

Cultural Considerations : 

Cultural Considerations Roles, rules, values Rituals and Myths) Diverse views regarding individuation and togetherness in collectivist cultures Gender Issues – Generation gap in socialization of girls and boys Parents can be labeled “old-fashioned” in their expectations of each

Adolescent Presenting Problems : 

Adolescent Presenting Problems Drug and alcohol use Teen Gangs and Violence Sexual acting out and teen pregnancy http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOfp0aZxy4c&feature=fvw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx6VDlPK-o8

Putting Parents Back in Charge : 

Putting Parents Back in Charge Parental tightening of control often results in further infractions of rules and rebellion Lack of education from parents -turning to peers for information and validation

General Therapeutic Strategies : 

General Therapeutic Strategies Parental Subsystem Use this time of storm and stress to empower parents to assess unfinished business i.e. family of origin issues. See adolescent alone help with reactivity and to aid in adolescent differentiation Conjoint sessions work on lowering anxiety and reactivity through corrective communication experiences

Person of the Therapist Issues in treating Families with Adolescents : 

Person of the Therapist Issues in treating Families with Adolescents Class Discussion