for Safeguarding Children: I Croydon Systemic Practice for Safeguarding Children: I Croydon Jamie McCreghan and Mark Huhnen Day 2 27th September

What are we thinking about today? Attachment theory applied in a systemic frame; attachment as a systemic concept, not just a biological one Introducing three generational thinking through family scripts and genograms Appreciating the use of cultural and family Genograms, to develop self reflexivity and as a family intervention Exploration and critique of the normative view of the family life cycle

What survived our 3 week break? Quick quiz

What’s in your name – activity for 5 minute discussion then some of these feedback

What do we mean by family scripts?

He would be interested in multigenerational scripts John Byng-Hall – Consultant Child and Family Psychiatrist at the Tavistock. His ideas are linked to Bowlby’s idea of attachment Byng-Hall describes a family script as “the family’s shared expectations of how family roles are to be performed within various contexts” (1995) He would be interested in multigenerational scripts A solution becomes fully scripted after it’s been re- enacted several times becomes part of the family repertoire Scripts define what people do – now and in the future 11.15 – 11.25

Scripts Replicative scripts Corrective scripts Improvised scripts Repeating patterns passed down the generations Felt to be worth repeating whether its nurturing, neglectful, harmful… Status quo Corrective scripts Opposite patterns, potential for polarisation Harsh to liberal Recognition for difference in how family is done Improvised scripts Either in times of great danger or at times of high levels of security families can improvise new interactional patterns – curiosity or necessity Finding difference to problem solve Offer examples for each

Improvised Scripts… Safe enough to improvise Think about attachment patterns and styles when we ask clients to do something different. Remember homeostasis…. What allows clients to do something different? – what in their script / believes / values – are they non-engaging or reluctant? Byng-Hall talks about a secure therapeutic base between client and therapist for improvisation to occur How much uncertainty can a family / client sit with during times of improvisation? Thicker discussion

Self-Reflexivity – “check yourself before you wreck yourself” The ability to be aware of the influence of our: experience, family and professional scripts, culture, our prejudices fears How we assess and respond to risk is influenced by our filtered lens “we use personal reflexivity to refer to the act of looking back over, or reflecting on, action” (Stedmon & Dallos, 2009) Talk about this re being aware of alignment with clients – thinking of our own scripts and influence Link back to own scripts of gender roles, employment

Exercise – in pairs What are some scripts you are aware of within your family? How have these scripts shaped you? What has / would need to happen for you to do something different? How do some of your scripts influence the way that you think about how families do family? 10 minutes and feedback

Family Life Cycle Model (Carter and McGoldick) The Launching of the single young adult The joining of families through marriage: The Couple Becoming parents: Families with young children The transformation of the family system in adolescence Families at midlife: Launching children and moving on The family in later life Briefly run through stages and impacts on system

All the worlds a stage…

The Launching of the single young adult - Accepting emotional and financial responsibility for self - Differentiation of self in relation to family of origin Development of intimate peer relationships Establishment of self re work and financial independence

The joining of families through marriage: The Couple - Commitment to the new system - Formulation of marital system Realignment of relationships with extended families and friends to include spouse

Becoming parents: Families with young children - Accepting new members into the system - Adjusting to marital system to make space for child(ren) Joining in childrearing, financial and household tasks Realignment of relationships with extended family to include parenting and grand-parenting roles

The transformation of the family system in adolescence - Increasing flexibility of family boundaries to include children’s independence and grandparents frailties - Shifting of parent child relationships to permit adolescence to move in and out of the system Refocus on midlife marital and career issues Beginning shift toward joint caring for older generation

Families at midlife: Launching children and moving on -Accepting a multitude of exits from and entries into the family system - Renegotiation of marital system as a dyad Development of adult to adult relationships between grown up children and their parents Realignment of relationships to include in-laws and grandchildren Dealing with disabilities and death of parents (grandparents)

The family in later life -Accepting the shifting of generational roles - Maintaining own and / or couple functioning and interests in face or physiological decline; exploration of new familial and social role options Support for a more central role of middle generation Making room in the system for the wisdom and experience of the elderly, supporting the older generation without over functioning them Dealing with loss of spouse, siblings and other peers and preparation for own death. Life review and integration

What are our critiques of the model? Normative assumptions Middle class Western Heterosexual Based on raising children What else?

Transition periods Helps us to think about how families move through transition periods – how they negotiate What do families embrace and move away from when moving through the life cycle? Resilience's and strengths Highlight periods of risk Transitions that are expected and unexpected?

Explain and explore with group

System levels, horizontal and vertical Stressors “The flow of anxiety” (Carter, 1978) in a family system occurs along both vertical and horizontal dimensions The model shows the individual set within circles of influence at different system levels (nuclear family, extended family, community, work and friends, and then social, cultural, political, and economical). Cutting across this, the horizontal axis includes the expected developmental life cycle transitions as well as unpredictable stressors (untimely death, chronic illness, accident).

Cont… The vertical axis coming down to meet the horizontal, developmental one is highlighted as the stressors coming down to the family from previous generations (family patterns, myths, secrets, legacies). Carter and McGoldrick take the view that the degree of anxiety engendered by the stress on the vertical and horizontal axes at the points where they converge is the key determinant of how well the family will manage its transitions through life.

Horizontal Stressors Exercise in a 2 or 3, one of you – using a timeline, plot significant events in life where predictable and unpredictable changes have occurred 10 minutes

Vertical Stressors Continue mapping, in your same groups, apply some of these ideas to your own family 10 minutes

LUNCH

Genograms Murray Bowen, Betty Carter & Monica McGoldrick Invite us to think about families and the push and pull of intergenerational patterns How families negotiate transitions Reminds us of the complex interconnected web between family and society – there is no vacuum Clinical map – a moment in time

Genograms Meaning making - capturing of stories, ways of being and doing with one another Tracking relational patterns and beliefs which impact risk and resilience Identifying/reminding of unrecognised influences and resources - especially distant and deceased family members To be curious, non-expert and tentative (language) What stories are privileged and subjugate Helps us move away from linear thinking

Genograms How do genograms help and hinder our work with families? How would some of the families we work with describe their experience of a genogram being undertaken?

Just a few ideas… Jamie

Safety warning Talk about self disclosure – 45 minutes each for genogram

House keeping Presentation list First assignments Anything else? Brief