Strategic interventions with single-parent families.

Abstract

Single-parent families face unique problems including role overload, economic hardships, isolation, loss and grief issues, and issues with the noncustodial parent relationship. The application of a brief strategic therapy model to the problems is illustrated through the presentation of several cases that exemplify typical problems faced by single-parent families. Advantages of therapy are discussed, as well as discussion of the appropriate application of the therapy with singleparent families.

Behavior problems of clinic children: Relation to parental marital status, age and sex of child.

“…First, all children in this study were referred to the clinic for some type of behavior problem. Thus, this clinical population may respond to the stresses of divorce and remarriage differently than a nonclinical population 3 , 47 . Second, previous research used smaller samples and did not investigate all of the variables in one study.…”

Addressing Single Parents’ Needs in Professional Counseling: A Qualitative Examination of Single Parenthood

“…These findings are grounded in the literature on stress and distress among single parents. Bray and Anderson (1984) highlighted the impact of isolation on single parents, and Schrag and Schmidt-Tieszen (2014) discussed the value of familial and nonfamilial support in helping teenage mothers to manage the stress of single parenthood.…”

“…Single parenthood can place significant psychological strains on custodial parents. Although quite dated, Bray and Anderson (1984) described a number of elements of the single parent’s role that still hold relatively true, at least in part. Among these, Bray and Anderson discussed role overload , in which single parents must simultaneously manage the multiple demands of rearing children and maintaining a household.…”

“…Bray and Anderson (1984) further describe the social and familial isolation that can occur following the dissolution of a partner relationship, the feelings of grief and loss that naturally tend to emerge following a breakup, and relationship difficulties with the noncustodial parent. Similarly, McLanahan and Beck (2010) highlight the challenges unmarried couples face in rearing children.…”

Strategic therapy with children: Single-subject case-study demonstrations.

“…Best phrased by Bray (1984), the strategic therapy approach bases its methods on the assumptions that: a) problems develop because of interactive difficulties between people rather than intrapsychic problems with a person; b) problems arise out of everyday interactions and are more likely to occur at transition points in the family life cycle; c) problems are usually the result of ignoring a difficulty which needs attention or action or trying to solve an unsolvable difficulty; d) problems are maintained because of the repeated application of inappropriate or ineffective solution attempts; and e) interruption or appropriate change of ineffective solution behavior patterns will eliminate the problem. The focus of this therapy is to define and solve specific behavioral/interactional problems as quickly as possible.…”