Counseling Family Genogram Essay

Genogram

A working agreement "defines the type of relationship the parties have with each other...ensure everyone understands the roles each party plays, defining specific tasks as well as detailing realistic expectations and targets everybody can meet during the agreement," (Byrne, 2012). The importance of a working agreement is more ethical than it is legal, but it remains a backbone of any effective intervention. According to Byrne (2012), "working agreements do not have specifically required elements, they do have many common features." These features include the following four sections: assessment, prioritizing, contracting, and evaluation (Murphy & Dillon 2003). A working agreement should ideally also include statements of confidentiality, statements of informed consent, treatment goals, roles, expectations, and responsibilities of all parties. Intervention methods used to attain goals and their frequency, duration, length, and location of the meetings should also be discussed. Likewise the means of evaluation or measuring progress toward goal attainment, and how the working agreement can be renegotiated are important parts of the working agreement. The consequences of either party not upholding the agreement and how unforeseen complications will be handled are also discussed.Client Background: Pamela is a 29-year-old female who is currently in a tumultuous relationship with her husband, who she describes as "controlling." She works as a part time bookkeeper and lives in Colorado Springs with her children and her husband. One of her children is autistic.

Assessment: Client has a long history of family dysfunction and abuse. There is also a history of mental illness in the client's family. She reports that her mother, uncle and older sister are all diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Moreover, Pamela's husband has also been in jail. The relationship is at a critical point, as Pamela and her husband have been separated and are now trying to get back together.

Prioritizing: A primary goal of treatment is to mend the relationship between Pamela and her husband Carl. Therefore, the priorities of treatment include family therapy. The children should ideally be included in some of the family….....