Family Counselors Research Articles

Ethical Challenges in Pediatric Medical Complexity: A Survey of Parents.

Ethical Challenges in Pediatric Medical Complexity: A Survey of Parents.

Recommendations for Pneumonia in Hospitalized Children With Neurologic Impairment.

Children with neurologic impairment (CNI) are commonly hospitalized with pneumonia but are often excluded from practice guidelines. We sought to develop evidence-based, expert-panel endorsed recommendations for the care of CNI hospitalized with pneumonia. We conducted an extensive literature search that formed the basis of drafted candidate recommendations for diagnostic testing, antimicrobial treatment, airway clearance, and discharge criteria. We convened a national panel of individuals with expertise in nursing, pediatric medicine (infectious diseases, pulmonology, hospital medicine, complex care), and family advocacy. Using the RAND/University of California Los Angeles Appropriateness Method, including a moderated panel meeting, panelists rated recommendations for appropriateness in 2 sequential rounds. The panel assessed 73 drafted recommendations for diagnostic testing, antimicrobial treatment, airway clearance, and discharge criteria for CNI hospitalized with pneumonia. After modifications to 2 of the drafted recommendations, the panel reached agreement on the appropriateness of 72 recommendations. Recommendations include management that minimizes the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. Recommendations further emphasize collaboration with respiratory therapists for airway clearance and with families, outpatient managing physicians, and homecare providers for discharge. The recommendations for pneumonia diagnosis and management account for heterogeneity in the patient population, including comorbidities and risk factors (eg, aspiration risk), as well as severity of presenting illness. Recommendations for appropriate diagnostic testing, antimicrobial treatment, airway clearance, and discharge criteria for CNI hospitalized with pneumonia can be used to inform clinical care. The effect of these recommendations on patient- and family-centered outcomes should be studied.

Differential Parental Treatment and Parent–Child Relationships: A Cluster Analysis Approach

Parents aim to establish positive and harmonious relationships with their children, regardless of age. Parental differential treatment is likely to influence the quality of parent–child relationships. Moreover, female and male college students may react differently to parental differential treatment in the context of these relationships. Therefore, the current study explored whether perceived maternal and paternal closeness and discord differ among interparental clusters of parental differential treatment when analyzed in relation to the gender of college students. The participants were 316 college students from a northeastern university who had at least one sibling. Their ages ranged from 19 to 25 years. Participants rated how differently their parents treated them and their siblings and then assessed their relationships with their parents. A cluster analysis identified three groups: equal, favored, and disfavored treatment. Further analyses indicated that participants in the disfavored cluster reported poorer relationships with both parents. In contrast, those who perceived favored or equal treatment reported higher-quality parent–child relationships. Additionally, females and males tend to respond differently to disfavored treatment; specifically, females experience more conflicts with their fathers. These findings can inform family counselors and guide future research on the impact of differential treatment on parent-child relationships.

Parents-teachers’ trust relationship and student self-esteem and academic achievement: A three sources multiple-step analysis

Parents’ educational involvement is known as a significant factor that affects students functioning in school. Therefore, establishing positive family-school relationships, particularly parents-teachers trust, is critical for student outcomes. The present studies have two aims: (1) to indicate the structure of parent-teacher trust relationships and (2) to examine the links between parent-teacher trust relationships and students’ academic achievement via parents’ educational involvement. The first study collected data from 474 parents. Factor analysis for the Family-School Relationship Survey (FSRS) revealed two factors: Parents’ perceived teacher’s role in enhancing students’ school performance and parents’ perceived teacher’s respectful attitudes towards parents. Based on these findings, the second study model examined the links between three components: Antecedents (parents-teacher trust relationships), mediators (parental involvement) and outcomes (students’ self-evaluation and academic achievements). Data was collected from 135 parents and their adolescents. Parents completed two questionnaires: FSRS and parent involvement, adolescents completed a self-esteem questionnaire and the school reported on academic achievement. Structural equation modelling revealed links between parents’ teacher trust relationships, parent involvement and academic achievement. School-based family counsellors aim to foster a trusting parent-teacher relationship. Therefore, they must be aware of both parents’ evaluation of teachers’ professional capability to support and enhance their children and teachers’ interpersonal skills.

Strengthening Partnerships entre las Familias, las Escuelas, y la Universidad for Dual Language Bilingual, Bicultural, Biliterate Education (DLB3E)

ABSTRACT This paper explores how an institution of higher education in partnership with a local parent-led organization can support authentic and organic Latinx family engagement and advocacy for dual language bilingual, bicultural, biliterate education (DLB3E). We reflect upon how engaging with Spanish-speaking parents helped us reimagine, reinvigorate, and transform local schools and universities by means of new understandings and practices of linguistic and cultural wealth, community assets, and family empowerment. We argue that this form of collaboration can lead to innovative and positive changes in p-16 education. To demonstrate, we share our developing framework for organizing annual parent conferences hosted by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley’s Center for Bilingual Studies in partnership with RGV PUEDE (Rio Grande Valley Parents United for Excellent Dual Education/Padres Unidos para una Educación Dual de Excelencia). Our framework shows how to build and strengthen grassroots parent and community advocacy for DLB3E from pre-kindergarten through university by strengthening partnerships between parents, public schools, university faculty, and nonprofit organizations to organize conferences and other types of public conversations in Spanish.

Adoption Informed Counseling and the Chinese Adoptee

Marriage, couple, and family counselors and therapists are encouraged to understand adoption-related developmental considerations when working with international adult adoptees. One specific subgroup, Chinese adoptees, are entering adulthood and are well-served by adoption-informed mental health providers. This practice brief reviews demographic information about the Chinese adoptee diaspora and describes adoption-informed practices.

Comparing the effectiveness of couple therapy based on self-discipline and acceptance and commitment on Fahmi's perspective in married women referring to counseling centers

Introduction: understanding perspective is an active cognitive process in which people must overcome their self-centered perspective. Aim: The aim of this study was to conducted with the aim of comparing the effectiveness of couples therapy based on self-discipline and acceptance and commitment on the husband's understanding point of view in married women. Method: The present study is a semi-experimental with pre-test, post-test and follow-up with control group. All married women referring to counseling and psychotherapy centers in Bushehr in 2018-2019 formed the statistical population of the study, which was selected by purposeful sampling of 60 people and randomly assigned to three equal groups.Therapeutic interventions were applied during 8 sessions (1 session of 90 minutes per week) for each experimental group, but the control group did not receive any intervention. To collect the data, Long's wife's understanding perspective scale (1990) was used. For data analysis, spss software version 26 and mixed variance analysis method were used. Results: The results showed that both treatments based on self-discipline and acceptance and commitment were effective in increasing understanding in married women (P<0.01) and the effectiveness of two methods of couple therapy based on self-discipline and couple There was no significant difference between treatment based on acceptance and commitment on Fahmi's perspective in married women (P<0.05). Conclusion: Couples therapy interventions based on self-discipline, acceptance and commitment can be available to family counselors as affordable and easy intervention programs with the aim of increasing understanding and the quality of marital relationship

Teaching While Streaming: Adult Adoptee Themes in The Real Housewives Reality Series

Bravo network's The Real Housewives, a long running reality tv series, spans multiple cities in the United States and across the globe. Counselor educators may utilize adult adoptee related issues present in the series for couples and family counseling students. This teaching brief describes the Real Housewives of Orange County's Katie Ginella, a transracial, international adoptee, whose storyline includes identity challenges, intergenerational trauma, and birth family reunion. Implications for couple and family counselor educators are described.

Self-Esteem in Marital Relationships

Objective: The objective of this study is to explore the role of self-esteem in marital relationships, examining how self-esteem influences marital satisfaction, communication, and overall relationship dynamics. Methods: This research utilizes a descriptive analytical narrative review approach. Data were collected from valid scientific databases, including both Persian and English sources such as Google Scholar, PubMed, SID, Magiran, and IranDoc. The inclusion criteria focused on peer-reviewed studies that examined the link between self-esteem and marital relationships. A qualitative content analysis was conducted to identify key themes, patterns, and differences across the literature. Findings: The analysis reveals that self-esteem is a critical factor in marital satisfaction, with individuals possessing higher self-esteem experiencing more fulfilling and stable relationships. Self-esteem also plays a significant role in improving communication between couples, reducing marital conflicts, and enhancing emotional intimacy. Furthermore, the review highlights a reciprocal relationship between self-esteem and sexual satisfaction, where individuals with higher sexual self-esteem demonstrate better marital functioning. Cross-cultural comparisons between Persian and English literature suggest similar themes but also reveal cultural nuances in the perception and role of self-esteem within marriages. Conclusion: The findings emphasize the importance of self-esteem in marital relationships, suggesting that higher self-esteem leads to better marital satisfaction, improved communication, and reduced conflicts. Interventions aimed at boosting self-esteem, particularly among women, could have a positive impact on marital dynamics and overall family well-being. The study calls for greater attention from family counselors and institutions to promote self-esteem through workshops and educational programs, ultimately contributing to happier and more stable marriages.

Got your six? Veterans and the family court system

AbstractStatus as a Veteran or military Servicemember (SM) can negatively impact custody determination in family court. Veterans and Servicemembers (SMs) must contend with unique barriers. The first barrier is a dueling media narrative of extremes, in which they are both idolized and demonized, extremes that shape the view that much of American society takes with respect to Veterans and SMs. The second barrier is the Permanent Change of Station (PCS) system. PCS forces SMs to move frequently and they have no formal mechanism to decline a PCS in order to maintain an existing child custody arrangement. The third barrier is an alarmingly high and incorrect over‐association of military service and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) coupled with the incorrect assertion that PTSD manifests itself primarily in a violent manner. The fourth barrier is a unique administrative hearing process within each of the military services known as the Family Advocacy Program (FAP) Incident Determination Committee (IDC) / Case Review Committee (CRC) which reviews claims of spousal or child abuse and is empowered to substantiate abuse claims without affording procedural due process protections. This paper is important because informing the body of professionals who comprise family court matters about these barriers will ideally lead to improved child custody outcomes for Veterans and SMs as well as push for additional research into the subject to understand how and in what manner SMs and Veterans are negatively impacted in custody determinations.

Patient leadership and partnerships accelerate therapies for SCN8A and other developmental and epileptic encephalopathies.

Families are a driving force in accelerating the understanding and science of SCN8A. The urgency felt by families facing the absence of treatments for their children makes them uniquely positioned to advance therapies through advocacy, data sharing, and partnerships. The International SCN8A Alliance (Alliance) brings families together to collaborate on advancing the science of SCN8A. The Alliance hosts SCN8A scientific meetings - facilitating coordination and collaboration among clinicians, researchers, industry, and the SCN8A community; funds early investigators to support research - building a new generation of investigators; builds and maintains a robust and dedicated International SCN8A Registry (Registry) providing longitudinal data on the natural history of the disorder and leading to over two dozen publications; cultivates partnerships with key stakeholders to accelerate innovation and progress including a Research Consortium, Global Clinicians Network, and the first global Consensus on the Diagnosis and Treatment of SCN8A; coordinates global community engagement by hosting families in virtual meetings in multiple languages and uniting advocates from across all epilepsies to call for more strategic and expanded investment in the epilepsies; builds and hosts the Global SCN8A Leaders Alliance (Leaders Alliance) promoting coordination and collaboration among leaders of SCN8A organizations worldwide; and advances a Global SCN8A Research Roadmap (Research Roadmap) - convening leading stakeholders in the SCN8A community to identify research priorities and accelerate progress toward better care, treatments, and outcomes. The outsized impact of small family advocacy organizations demonstrates that patient advocates can be effective agents in accelerating new therapeutics through maximizing their power to convene diverse stakeholders around a shared vision grounded in patient/caregiver priorities, maintaining a core focus on improving outcomes that are most important to families, and recognizing the importance of being bold, thinking big, and collaborating across disease areas.

The Role of Interpersonal Emotion Regulation in Couples' Relationships: Grounded Theory

Background: Interpersonal emotion regulation is a crucial skill that underpins the emotional dynamics in couples' relationships. In regulating interpersonal emotions, couples not only focus on their own emotions but also consider the emotions of their partner. Objectives: The study aimed to explore the role of interpersonal emotion regulation in couples' relationships. Methods: This qualitative study utilized a grounded theory strategy. Married women and men from Yazd (2021) who met the inclusion criteria participated in semi-structured interviews conducted through purposeful sampling until theoretical saturation was achieved. A total of 20 individuals (13 women and 7 men) were included in the study. Data were analyzed using MaxQDA 2020 software. Results: Collecting and coding the data with the Strauss and Corbin method, as open, axial, and selective coding, gave us 229 open codings, 32 axial codings, 7 selective codings, and one nuclear or core category under the title of safe attachment. The major categories included: Personal development, emotional safety, emotional self-awareness, empathic attunement, comprehensive support, comprehensive improvement of quality of life, and promotion of the spousal-safe base. A paradigm model was drawn from the components of the central phenomenon, causal conditions, contextual conditions, intervening conditions, strategies, and consequences. Conclusions: The specification of effective factors in the formation of interpersonal emotion regulation and the research paradigm model enables the accurate identification of strategies for interpersonal emotion regulation and their consequences in couple relationships, facilitating the progression of couples towards safe attachment. It is suggested that family counselors and therapists use these results to help couples.

On the front lines of the sepsis crisis: hurdles faced by sepsis researchers, survivors, and family advocates.

On the front lines of the sepsis crisis: hurdles faced by sepsis researchers, survivors, and family advocates.

An evaluation of a multidisciplinary care planning tool for people with intellectual disabilities and behaviours of concern.

Multidisciplinary care planning for people with intellectual disabilities who engage in behaviours of concern (BoC) is challenging and complex. Effective collaborative understanding and action planning across all stakeholders is essential. Cornwall's Adult Community Learning Disability Team developed a care planning tool (Connect Behaviour) using contemporary evidence and best practice. Connect Behaviour is designed to facilitate care planning by collaborative and enhanced shared understanding and is also available as an interactive web-based tool. To evaluate Connect behaviour using stakeholders' experiences. Family members, care providers, advocates, social workers and professionals who had attended meetings guided by the Connect Behaviour care planning tool in a 3-month period were interviewed about their experiences of those meetings. This was interpreted using inductive thematic analysis. Of 71 individuals identified as meeting this criterion of inclusion 61 were contactable and 27 consented to participation. These participants consisted of 17 health professionals, two parents, two social workers, three advocates, two positive behaviour support advisors within care providers, and one manager of a local care provider. The thematic analysis of participant views of connect behaviour generated five superordinate themes of 'pragmatic', 'enabling', 'validation of effort', 'perceived lack of flexibility' and 'areas for development'. Further inquiry of themes highlighted subthemes of Connect Behaviour being 'sensible', 'practical', 'collaborative', 'holistic' and 'action'. Conversely, some perceived a lack of flexibility in the care planning tool. Future areas for development were also identified in the data. Changes were recommended to increase the tool accessibility for people with intellectual disabilities, support stakeholders understanding of the tool, and consider utility for other clinical scenarios. The evaluation established general feedback to continue to use the Connect Behaviour as a care planning tool. The benefits of Connect Behaviour in comparison to other care planning frameworks needs to be understood.

Changes in LEND trainees' understanding and application of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice principles.

To assess changes in trainees' knowledge and application of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) concepts after participating in a midwestern academic medical center Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program. LEND is a federally funded year-long program training individuals of various disciplines (e.g., speech pathology, family advocacy, psychology) to better support the health of individuals with disabilities. Trainees (n = 46) answered questions about their knowledge and application of DEIJ topics before and after program participation in 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. Changes in trainees' responses were examined using paired-samples t-tests. Thirty-six (78%) participants identified as White, 7 (15%) as Black, 2 (4%) as Asian, and 2 (4%) as more than one race. Three (7%) participants identified as Hispanic/Latino. Over the one-year program, trainees' perceived knowledge increased [t(45) = 5.84, p < .001, Mdiff = .59, Cohen's D = 0.86]. Regarding articulating definitions of DEIJ terms, trainees' summed scores following program participation also improved [t(45) = 4.71, p < .001, Mdiff = 2.37, Cohen's D = 0.70]. However, their comfort with addressing prejudicial statements and discussing and combating "-isms" (application of DEIJ skills) did not increase [t(45) = 1.74, p = .09, Mdiff = 0.17, Cohen's D = 0.26]. LEND program participation positively impacted trainees' perceived DEIJ knowledge and ability to define DEIJ terms. However, future refinements to the curriculum will be needed to improve trainees' application of skills and to develop a more nuanced understanding of equity, intersectionality, inclusion, and belonging.

Establishing an Advocacy Activities Scale for Parents of Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Advocacy has long been heralded as a way to create change for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. However, without an established measure, it is difficult to accurately characterize advocacy activities. Drawing from extant research, the Advocacy Activities Scale was developed to assess three domains of parent advocacy: advocacy for one's own children, advocacy for other families, and advocacy for systemic change. Factor analyses were conducted using data from two projects reflecting 382 parents of individuals with IDD from seven states and the District of Columbia. The scale confirmed the three moderately correlated domains of parent advocacy and demonstrated that the scale has high: reliability, validity, test-retest reliability, and moderate correlations with related measures.

Study of the Experiences of the Family Counselors of the Judiciary System to Identify the Effective Features of the Family Counseling in Reducing Family Disputes and Strengthening the Family

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the experiences of the family counselors of the judiciary system to identify the effective features of the family counseling in reducing family disputes and strengthening the family. Methods: This was a phenomenonological type of qualitative research. The participants in the research included 20 people (13 women and 7 men) whoe were family counselors at the judiciary system in several Iranian cities during 1399-1400 Persian calendar. Participants were selected using the purposeful sampling method according the entry criteria. Sampling continued until saturation was reached. In order to analyze the data, first, the data were recorded and coded, then analyzed using Van Menen's interpretive phenomenological analysis method. Results: The findings of the research included 6 main themes and 33 sub-themes of counselors' experiences as effective therapeutic features. The main themes obtained include: goals pursued to reduce family disputes and strengthening the family, characteristics of counselors, facilitating and promoting measures of counseling alongside the court proceeding, failure of resistance in clients beside the court, interventions to achieve change in order to reduce family disputes and strengthen the family and the characteristics of the counseling location in order to increase the effectiveness of the counseling near the court. Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that the counselors of the judiciary system who have a lower divorce rate at the end of the counseling sessions and are more successful in solving family problems than their other colleagues, have personal characteristics and principles governing their meetings as such that it provides safe and favorable conditions for this group of clients and paves the way for raising issues, listening to them, and ultimately resolving their concerns.

Reasons and Contexts of The Formation of Parallel Relationships From The Point of View of Family Counselors Among Couples in City of Ahvaz City: A Qualitative Study

Aim: The purpose of this research is to identify the attitude of family counselors towards the reasons and contexts of the formation of parallel relationships among couples in city of Ahvaz. Methods: This research was conducted using qualitative approach and grounded theory method through theoretical and purposeful sampling, in which 20 counselors of public and private family centers participated in in-depth interviews. The theoretical sampling process continued until the data saturation stage was reached. The collected data were analyzed using open, axial and selective coding. Results: The emerged model includes three dimensions of conditions, action-interactions, and consequences. The "conditions" dimension includes the deterioration of public attitudes and opinions, virtual space facilitating extra-marital relationships, sensationalism and lack of body care, couples' unwillingness to talk to each other, not maintaining the boundaries of personal life, immersion in family roles and social, imposition of choice and hidden protest, experience of modern love and marital frustration, not being able to cope, lack of satisfaction with married life, "action-interaction" dimension, including trying to relieve the significant other, "consequences" dimension, including the elimination of the culture of shame and modesty, self-deception and other insidious deception, fighting with oneself and obsessively searching for love, social isolation and the prevalence of social harms, which are formed around the core category of "hidden objection to life without love". Conclusion: Given that, parallel relationships are a danger to the health and safety of the family and society. Therefore, by using the concepts extracted in this research, experts can identify the platforms for the formation of parallel relationships and examine the strategies, and it can be a guide in couple therapy and pre-marital counseling.

Examining the effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of an advocacy program for Latinx families of transition-aged autistic youth.

Families of autistic youth often support their children's transition from adolescence to adulthood. During this time, families learn to navigate the complex shift from school-based to adult disability services. For Latinx (vs non-Latinx White) families of autistic youth, transition is especially difficult because of the systemic barriers (e.g. language) Latinx families face when accessing services. Unfortunately, few interventions aim to improve the transition among Latinx families of autistic transition-aged youth. This study examines the effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of the ASISTIR (Apoyando a nueStros hIjo/as con autiSmo obTener servIcios de tRansición; Supporting our Children with Autism to Obtain Transition Services) program, a six-session program for Latinx families of autistic youth, with respect to increasing: school-based transition planning and adult disability services knowledge, empowerment, and advocacy. Twenty-nine participants were included in this single-group, intervention study. After completing the program, participants demonstrated significantly improved: knowledge of school-based transition planning and adult disability services, advocacy, and empowerment. In addition, participants were highly satisfied with the program, based on the formative and summative evaluations and individual interviews. Implications for research and practice are discussed.Lay abstractTo support Latinx families of autistic youth navigate school-based transition services and adult disability services, we provided a family advocacy program entitled, ASISTIR (Apoyando a nueStros hIjo/as con autiSmo obTener servIcios de tRansición; Supporting our Children with Autism to Obtain Transition Services). The ASISTIR program consisted of six, two-hour sessions and included the following topics: school-based transition planning, person-centered planning, Supplemental Security Income, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Home and Community-Based Medicaid Waiver. Twenty-nine Latinx family members completed the cohort-based ASISTIR program. After participating family members demonstrated increased knowledge of school-based transition planning and adult disability services. Participants also demonstrated increased empowerment and advocacy.

Setting priorities for mental health family carer research and advocacy in Australia

Setting priorities for mental health family carer research and advocacy in Australia