10 TO 12 double-spaced pages, 12 point font; references from the books used this semester, cited in APA format. References from McGoldrick, Garcia-Preto, and Carter must cite specific chapters and their authors, not simply the book. Proof-read your final draft for grammar, spelling and typos.
Read Chapter 27 by Steve Lerner in The Expanding Family Life Cycle before you begin to write.
Using all of the concepts learned in class and in the readings (cite references in text and in reference list), reflect on your strengths and vulnerabilities as a potential family therapist or counselor to children, adults and their families.
Describe fully what particular stages of the family life cycle (e.g. – young adult leaving home; new couple; couple or single parent with young children; couple or single parent with adolescence; aging/illness/loss) kinds of family organization (e.g. nuclear family; multi-generational family; triangles, alliances, splits) issues of addictions, family violence, gender issues, social class, migration and cultural themes will provide strengths for you, and which ones will provide particular challenges for you – spell out the reasons, linking these to your own family relationship experience; do not simply list these. Not all of the stages, organization and issues will provide strengths or challenges – choose from among these. Provide a genogram.
Discuss ways that you plan to address the challenges as you move forward in your career.