Week 6: Primary Applications

Week 6: Primary Applications. During the past 4 weeks, you have explicitly targeted working with couples and families who are experiencing enough relational stress that clinical problems are present. The focus now turns to the primary applications for specific issues with couples that they may present in treatment. This week the focus will be on infidelity and relationships impacted by substance use.

Students will:

• Analyze effectiveness of an intervention for couples experiencing external factors
• Analyze influence of social media on couple’s relationships

Week 6: Primary Applications

Learning Resources

Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

Required Readings

Gurman, A. S., Lebow, J. L., Snyder, D. K. (2015). Clinical handbook of couple therapy. New York, NY: The Guilford Press.

• Chapter 15, “Couple Therapy and the Treatment of Affairs”
• Chapter 21, “Couple Therapy and Alcohol Problems”

Williams, M. (2012). Couples counseling: A step by step guide for therapists. Boston, MA: Viale Publishing.

• Chapter 10, “Forgiveness”

Week 6: Primary Applications

Optional Resources

Use the link below to access the MSW home page, which provides resources for your social work program.

MSW home page

Discussion: Treating External Factors

 

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

—Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

American Politician

 

Couples are impacted by many external factors that may negatively affect their system.  Couples are impacted by common life stage transitions (e.g., children introduced to the system by birth or adoption, empty nests when children become adults, blended families), as well as uncommon life events such as infidelity, substance use, financial challenges, gambling problems.  When working with couples it is important to remain aware of any external factors the couple is experiencing to help understand the impact on the dyad.

For this Discussion, search the Walden Library for an article that discusses treating couples where an external factor noted above has negatively impacted the couple to the point they are considering divorce.

Week 6: Primary Applications

By Day 4

Post an analysis of the article you found. In the analysis, identify which theory was utilized to treat this issue.  Then, discuss if the treatment was effective or ineffective in helping the couple work through the issue. Finally, explain whether or not you believe there is some other intervention that would be beneficial for this situation.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the resources.

Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.

Week 6: Primary Applications

By Day 6

Respond to two of your colleagues’ postings in one or more of the following ways:

• Ask a probing question.
• Share an insight from having read your colleague’s posting.
• Offer and support an opinion.
• Make a suggestion.
• Expand on your colleague’s posting.

Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you have learned and/or any insights you have gained as a result of the comments your colleagues made.

Week 6: Primary Applications

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 6 Discussion Rubric

Post by Day 4 and Respond by Day 6

To participate in this Discussion:

Week 6 Discussion

Week 6: Primary Applications

Assignment: Social Media and the Family

In our culture, there is an increased use of social media.  Social media has changed the way people and families interact with each other.  Many theorists believe social media has advantages of connecting people, while other theorists believe social media negatively affects relationships, for many reasons.  Social workers need to be aware of the couples’ use of social media and explore the effects on the relationship.

For this Assignment search the Walden Library for two articles – one supporting the positive affects social media has on couples and one suggesting the negative affects social media has on relationships.

Week 6: Primary Applications

The Assignment (2–3 pages)

• Summarize each article in 100 words or less.
• Provide a critical analysis of each side of the social media debate.
• Explain which side you take and support your professional opinion on social media and couple’s relationships with scholarly references and additional resources.

Use evidence-based research to support your findings.

Support your Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are asked to provide a reference list for all resources, including those in the resources for this course.

Week 6: Primary Applications

By Day 7

Submit your assignment.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

• Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK6Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
• Click the Week 6 Assignment Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
• Click the Week 6 Assignment link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
• Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK6Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
• If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
• Click on the Submit button to complete your submission.

Week 6: Primary Applications

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 6 Assignment Rubric

Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity

To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:

Submit your Week 6 Assignment draft and review the originality report.

Submit Your Assignment by Day 7

To submit your Assignment:

Week 6 Assignment

Week 6: Primary Applications

Week in Review

In this week, you analyzed how to intervene when external factors affect a relationship, as well as examined how social media may impact a couple.

In the next week, you will return to the issues common to couples and families everywhere.

Next Week

To go to the next week:

Week 7