Strengthening Bonds between Children, Young People, and their Families after Family Violence

Abstract

The experience of family violence greatly impacts family dynamics and often results in children and young people becoming intertwined in a complex cycle of love, hope, and fear within their family system. Research in this context has emphasised how having a close relationship to an attuned adult or caregiver is a key protective factor for children and young people experiencing family violence, therefore engagement of family and supportive systems is an important part of the work. This article will explore our collaborative approach to working creatively with children, young people, and their non-violent family members as a way of bringing families back together after their relationships have been disrupted due to family violence. We will draw upon a case example from our work to describe how we use music to give voice to children and young people’s experiences. This approach aims to support children to tell their story, build upon their existing resources, and strengthen connections with the supportive people in their lives. In doing so, we will demonstrate how music can be used to advocate for children and young people’s voices to be heard within the context of their family’s experience.

An Exploration of Client Experiences in a Combination of Individual and Family Counseling

“…However, because clients in the current study were engaged in both individual and family counseling, they were able to gain insights into themselves and their families, while learning to more effectively communicate with one another. Individual sessions provided the children safety for self-exploration (Fairchild & Sheridan, 2018), and insights that occurred during individual counseling could then be harnessed in the family session, leading to changed family dynamics and communication patterns. Learning coping skills was part of this process and meaningful, as has also been found by Sackett and Cook (2021).…”

“…However, varying perspectives on who and to what degree each family member was to be included in the counseling have also existed (Cordell & Allen, 1997;Miller & McLeod, 2001;Sori & Sprenkle, 2004). One perspective was that young clients could best address specific treatment needs through the safe space of individual counseling (Fairchild & Sheridan, 2018), while they and their family members addressed issues of family dynamics in family counseling (Guerney & Guerney, 1987;Lund et al, 2002). In a metasynthesis of literature on treatment for children and families, Lund et al (2002) found that a combination of individual, family, or couples/parent counseling was a recommendation included in one fourth of all publications (N ¼ 60) examined.…”

“…A combination of individual counseling with children and family counseling has been shown to be effective to treat a variety of mental health concerns and address developmental issues (e.g., Carr, 2009;Fairchild & Sheridan, 2018;Law et al, 2019). Curtis et al (2004) found that adolescents engaged in multisystemic therapy-a specific form of treatment for conduct disorder that incorporates both individual and family counseling-yielded positive results including improved family relationships and reduced behavioral and substance-use issues.…”

“…In a combination of both individual and family counseling, counselors have focused on specific issues and skill-building with children, while family counseling sessions have been conducted with child and one or more family members (Carr, 2009). Promising evidence suggested a combination of individual and family counseling was effective to treat a number of issues and disorders including conduct disorders (Curtis et al, 2004), anxiety disorders (Siqueland et al, 2005), psychotic disorders (Law et al, 2019), and trauma-related disorders (Fairchild & Sheridan, 2018).…”

Een Relationele Route Tot Gedeeld Opvoederschap. Resultaten Van Onderzoek Naar Het Samen Op Voeden Door Ouders en Gezinshuisouders

“…Uiteraard moet vermeden worden dat vormen van kindermishandeling kunnen voortduren in contact tussen ouders en kinderen. In dat geval kunnen andere, veilige, familieleden een bron van steun worden voor een kind (Fairchild & Sheridan, 2018).…”