Bemidji State University Bemidji, Minnesota
Psychology 4469 Family Systems Prerequisites: Psy 1100, 2217,                          2237,& 3331 E-mail: LJackson@bemidjistate.edu	Louise Jackson HS 211 Phone: 755-2803

Text:
Goldenberg, I. and Goldenberg, H. (2004). Family Therapy: An Overview 6th Edition. Monterey, California: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.

Content: This course will provide a broad introduction to the family system, offering a balanced presentation of the major theoretical positions and clinical practices as they emerged in the literature.

Course Objectives:

1. Be informed of the variety of family systems theories.
2. Be able to formulate problem/symptoms from a systems perspective.
3. Be informed of the feminist perspective and how it contributes to your understanding of family systems.
4. Be informed of the variety of clinical practices used by the family therapist.
5. Understand that the interventions in family therapy are aimed at pattern breaking rather than individual symptoms.
6. Be able to relate the material from the text to your family of origin to increase your awareness of family systems influences on yourself as a human service professional.

Course Requirements:

1. Essay Exams - 5 exams @ 50 points		250 pts.
2. Film Analysis “Ordinary People”		50 pts.
3. Family Analysis Paper		50 pts.
4. Research Article Critique		25 pts.
5. Forming a simulated family (NOT CEL)		20 pts.
	Total Points:	395 pts.

Grading scale:

355 - 395 = A		CEL: 337 - 375 = A
315 - 354 = B		299 - 336 = B
275 - 314 = C		261 - 298 = C
235 - 274 = D		223 - 260 = D

Paper Requirements:

1. Film Analysis: “Ordinary People”: This assignment requires you to view the film and address the following points.
   1. family roles
   2. family rules
   3. family communication patterns
   4. power structure
   5. family secrets
   6. subsystems: alliances, coalitions,
   7. healthy family elements/dysfunctional family elements
2. Family Analysis: You may elect to analyze your own family or another family with which you have close experience. Use the family analysis questions in the analysis. Include a genogram of three generations. (grandparents, parents, children). Typed, proofed, spell-checked, with cover sheet.
   
3. Research Article Critique; Polasky L.J. & Holahan, Carole K. (1998). Maternal self-discrepancies, inter-role conflict and negative affect among married professional women with children. Journal of Family Psychology, 12,3, 388-401. Briefly summarize the article and include your reactions to the research and findings.

Readings:

Topic	Reading
Adopting a family frame of reference	Ch. 1 Goldenberg
Film: “Ordinary People”
Family development: continuity and change	Ch. 2 Goldenberg
Form simulated family NOT CEL
Gender/Culture/Ethnicity	Ch. 3 Goldenberg
Exam 1 September 29, 2003
Family as a Psychosocial System	Ch. 4 Goldenberg
Develop family’s roles/history/problems NOT CEL
Film Analysis due October 6, 2003
Growth of Family Therapy: 1950-Present	Ch. 5 Goldenberg
Theoretical perspectives: Psychodynamic	Ch. 6 Goldenberg
Exam 2 October 20, 2003
Experiential Models	Ch. 7 Goldenberg
Research Article Critique Due October 27
Transgenerational Models: Bowen	Ch. 8 Goldenberg
The Structural model	Ch. 9 Goldenberg
Exam 3 November 10, 2003
Strategic Models	Ch. 10 Goldenberg
Make family video-tape NOT CEL
The Milan Model	Ch. 11 Goldenberg
Cognitive/Behavioral Models	Ch. 12 Goldenberg
Exam 4 December 1, 2003
Postmodernism and the Social Constructionist	Ch. 13 Goldenberg
Family Analysis Paper Due December 8, 2003
Family Therapy Research	Ch. 15 Goldenberg
Final Exam: Exam 5 Monday, December 15, 2003; 7:30-9:30