Chemically Dependent Families

Overall I enjoyed the counseling the chemically dependent family class. I learned more about family systems approaches, and techniques for working with chemically dependent families. Throughout this counseling program we have been learning how to work with individual clients. This class was interesting because it involved the identified client and their entire family, while looking at these individuals in a systemic view.
Throughout the course we had numerous course assignments to complete. In doing the treatment plan I attempted to create something that could be beneficial for the entire family. In doing so, I had to understand the significance of each individual’s problem to this particular family. The family map was very useful because I was able to physically see everyone’s relationship to one another. I enjoyed the films and documentaries we watch in class about the chemically dependent families. I was able to see what these families looked like and not just what the textbooks illustrate. I learned that alcoholism is a
family disease that affects everyone in the family. The family collage was one of my favorite assignments. I enjoy scrap booking and pictures are very important to me. I was able to develop a collage that depicted my family unit. It was interesting to see how much my family unit has evolved over the years.
The family genogram was an eye-opening assignment. It allowed me to illustrate the addictions throughout the generations. It helped me to understand my family better. I now know why certain individuals act and respond the way they do. Some of these addictions are openly acknowledged and talked about while others aren’t. I began to realize that my family has secrets and unspoken rules. The family mobile was a very engaging assignment/presentation. I was able to illustrate the patterns that emerged in my family. I spoke about how I was triangulated between my parents and how they communicate through me. This assignment allowed me to verbally acknowledge things that weren’t talked about in my immediate family. It allowed me to review my role in my family and address how I function in that role. The assignment about family myths and metaphors recognize how they have influenced the behaviors of my family members. Growing up as a child these myths and metaphors are taught and are expected to be acknowledged and believed. In adulthood, I have challenged these myths and metaphors. I am not able to understand their origins and how they have affected my family’s perceptions of the world.
The letter that I developed for one of our assignments was for my father.
I choose my father because I was a way for me to process unresolved anger that remained from my childhood. It was a difficult letter to write but I felt goof afterwards. I am now in the process of deciding if I want to deliver the letter to him, only time will tell. The artistic rendering of addiction was one of our very first assignments. It was one of my favorites. I was able to be creative and free in my depiction of a horrible disease. Our final assignment was to attend two 12 step meetings. I was initially very nervous about this assignment because I had never attended these types of meetings and I did not know what to expect. Attended the meetings helped me to get a better understanding what the life of an alcoholic is like. I had not experienced an alcoholic in my immediate family growing up. It changed the way I looked at addiction and made this a very real
thing.