SHAPING YOUR FAMILY’S FUTURE


APPENDIX B reading Great Expectations or Wuthering Heights for insights into family dynamics.


Kerr, Michael E., and Murray Bowen. Family Evaluation. New York: W. W. Norton, 1988. This book, intended for therapists looking for a way to help clients understand their families, is a useful—albeit heady—tool for parents who want to map out the impact of their family of origin in a more complete way.


McGoldrick, Monica, Randy Gerson, and Sylvia Shellenberger. Genograms: Assessment and Intervention. New York: W. W. Norton, 1999. If you want to do a more in-depth genogram, this is the book to help you do it. The authors use the families of real historical figures to illustrate genogram principles. Not only will you learn more about your family, but you’ll sound smart at parties, too.


Napier, Augustus Y., with Carl Whitaker. The Family Crucible. New York: Harper Paperbacks, 1988.


This narrative tells the story of a young girl who enters therapy with her family. This “see-it-in-action” approach can help readers develop a better understanding of how FST works.


Genogram Exercise


You’ll use your genogram project to explore the views of spirituality, faith, God, church, and religion that are part of your family heritage. Talk with your family members individually— mom, dad, brothers, and sisters first, then the extended family as time and energy permits— about these issues, but keep in mind that faith can be a very difficult thing for some people to talk about. Still, even the fact that it’s hard to talk about can be a hint about your family’s view of faith.


GENOGRAM—STEP 2


1. Write down your own recollections of religious practices that your family kept. The focus is on the family as a unit, rather than on you as an individual within the family.


2. Write down your memories of meaningful religious and spiritual experiences or insights. The focus here is on your own personal spiritual and religious journey.


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