Multi-problem families are at risk of dissolution and homelessness. Cultural, social, economic, educational and family structural problems and differences often bring unbearable pressure upon families. Traditionally, a single problem or a family member was identified as the causal factor. Quite often a family member was removed from the home.…

The purpose of this literature review was to demonstrate that a family systems conceptualization of family dysfunction could be applied to bulimic families. In general, self-report and observational family characteristics studies support the hypothesis that bulimic families, like anorectic families, have significant systemic dysfunction in…

A licensed counselor working in a privately owned mental health facility implemented a practicum study designed to improve the parenting skills and quality of family communication in families with children between 3 and 14 years of age. Practicum goals were to: (1) give parents information that would improve their parenting skills; and (2)…

Due to isolation, lack of resources, and lack of training, rural health care providers lack the knowledge, skills, and attitude to work effectively with patients experiencing family violence. To address this need, a strategy-reported here-was designed and implemented in order to promote more effective intervention with patients experiencing family…

Intake of a youth into a residential treatment center is disruptive to both the child and to their family. Counseling agencies have an obligation to ensure that the emotional and informational needs of the resident and the resident's family are being addressed during this difficult time. This report offers a solution strategy to address the needs…

This practicum in an elementary school attempted to provide adaptive strategies to children of alcoholic parents so that they would be able to cope effectively with their family problems. It also attempted to develop self-esteem in these children and to help them to recognize their strengths. Biweekly counseling sessions were designed to teach…

Alcoholism is a growing problem in America today. Children are becoming addicted to chemicals at a much younger age. Those children who have alcoholic parents and/or grandparents are more susceptible to addiction because of hereditary factors. Children of alcoholic parents live amidst conflict and confusion. Because of this conflict and confusion,…

This document presents a practicum designed to address the problems encountered when a child in nondirective play therapy becomes able to express emotions and parents, unable to accept their child's new expressions of anger, withdraw the child from therapy at a time when he or she is most vulnerable. The development and implementation of a program…

The racial composition of participants in a Florida crisis intervention agency's programs indicated that, among the population at risk, black youth were overrepresented in State delinquency and child welfare programs and underrepresented in the agency's intervention services. This practicum was designed to enhance the agency's ability to reach…

The design of this practicum was to address the problem of parents obtaining a divorce who did not possess coping skills and who sometimes misdirected their frustration and anger at their children. Often, children felt responsible for the divorce and experienced a profound sense of loss and confusion. The major goal realized in this practicum was…

A program was developed by a nurse/counselor to provide individual education and counseling for mothers having high-risk infants admitted to a Special Care Nursery after delivery. The program begins as soon after delivery as possible and evaluates the mother's skills, attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge of childrearing practices necessary for caring…

Relationships between parents of children with special needs and their children are profoundly impacted by the child's special needs. Literature identifies several discrepancies in reported outcomes of these stressors and also speaks to the impact on overall marital satisfaction in these couples. In this project literature findings were reviewed,…

This practicum was designed to increase the self-esteem of children between the ages of 8 and 12 from dysfunctional families. The strategies implemented involved working with the parents of these children to help increase positive communication and relationships between parents and their children. Based on the idea that self-esteem is a reciprocal…

A practicum designed to strengthen and expand day care staff members' knowledge about working with preschool children from crisis families had the following goals: (1) to provide staff with information about children in stressful situations; (2) to help staff recognize child behaviors that call for special attention; (3) to help staff implement…

This practicum was designed to increase parent awareness of the importance of family play interaction and to foster parents' ability to demonstrate these playskills as a couple and within the family. Questionnaires and personal interviews confirmed the need for more information on the importance of play and of age-appropriate play skills. A…