Introduction
Acknowledging the formation of ethnic and societal identities is critical for successful counseling and mobilization. Psychologists can use cultural and racial character formation frameworks to examine within-group disparities. The approaches also enable therapists to properly comprehend client behaviors to treatment and deliver sociopolitical effects on identity formation to light. Although the approaches may aid in understanding cultural or ethnic identity formation, their stage-based structure limits their portrayal of a greater natural and complicated system that is influenced by other factors such as sexual preference, gender, and class. The case study will analyze the biopsychological characteristics, systematic dynamics and racial identity of members of the Carter family. Strategies for resolving conflict and promoting optimal wellness within the family are provided in this paper.
Biopsychosocial Characteristics and Systematic Dynamics
The discipline of bio-psychosocial psychiatric study emphasizes the relevance of the connection between biological, psychological, and social aspects of distress and the requirement of considering all of these elements when assessing the complete patient. The concept looks at how these factors influence everything from health and sickness to the formation of personal identity (Gentry et al., 2018). James experiences multiracial issues that make the boy’s biopsychosocial features poor in the Carter family case study. Raymond and Sarah would like to improve their son’s biopsychosocial characteristics; however, they appear to deny James the chance to interact with the African-American culture. Multiracial youngsters should be allowed to associate with both cultures so they can develop their identities.
In the United States, race dynamics have a powerful impact on multiracial households. Family counselors should be ready to fulfill the demands of this rapidly rising group while also advocating for racial fairness. The Carter family’s systemic dynamics are heavily influenced by age and gender. James has arrived at a point in life desiring to learn and participate in his African American heritage. James might confide in his father, but Raymond is white, so it is not easy, and thus they argue a lot. Sarah is of African descent; however, she is not the man in James’ life. Gender serves a more significant part since James needs an excellent male African-American character in his life, unlike his recent acquaintances. James wants to identify with the African American heritage but lacks a male figure to help lead him; therefore, James resents his parents.
Gender responsibilities in society refer to the way people are groomed, talk, act, dress, and behave according to their given sex. Women and girls, for example, are required to dress in traditionally feminine styles and be pleasant, sympathetic, and caring (Gentry et al., 2018). Sarah’s brothers want her to transfer their mother into her home in the Carter family case study since the mother is experiencing problems. Sarah is a working parent, and balancing work and family life is a constant struggle. When the requirements of children and other family members conflict with employment, women usually alter their schedules and accept commitments. Therefore, gender becomes a powerful systemic dynamic that professional counselors should help families understand the roles of each member to prevent conflicts in the household.
Racial and Cultural Identity
Multiracial adolescents transracially adopted children, and foster kids nurtured in households with more than one ethnic or cultural ancestry have a distinctive perspective within and beyond the house. The cultural identity model is a framework for comprehending and collaborating with members of ethnically incorporated homes (Lee et al., 2018). This takes into account racial and cultural variations among children and parents and the effect of parents, colleagues, extended families, social help systems, and the larger community’s perspectives and behaviors on child psychology. The racial identity development model was the first comprehensive guidance for practitioners working with ethnically and regionally blended households.
Acknowledging James’ conduct is one of the advantages of the racial and cultural identification paradigm. Using the approach, one may determine the degree of awareness James is feeling due to his race. Furthermore, because therapists investigate everything James is experiencing and assist the family throughout the process, the approach helps to produce a favorable household outcome (Lee et al., 2018). The model can assist the Scottish-Irish father to comprehend James and offer his son an excellent father figure.
Sarah has a greater sense of James’ situation; however, she is frightened of allowing him to interact with African-American culture for fear of getting shot for being in the wrong area at the wrong moment. On the other hand, Raymond’s experience through the stages of awareness is utterly different from Sarah’s and James’. These constraints may impact James’ therapy response and connection with the parents. James has a lot of hatred toward his parents and Raymond’s and Sarah’s reactions and assistance are crucial to James’ development. It is critical to work with both parents to comprehend James’ state of awareness and explore it in family counselling.
Strategies For Resolving Conflict and Promoting Optimal Wellness
In today’s culture, conflict frequently arises in multicultural households. When two or multiple ethnic groups come together, there is a risk of conflict owing to differing viewpoints. Although it may appear like resolving the disagreement is the best option, managing it may be a better one. Professional psychologists dealing with multiracial families in the home must be familiar with the many forms of disagreement and conflict resolution approaches needed to guide family members toward good results properly.
The Carter family will be able to sort out difficulties and express their goals and desires by meeting with a family counsellor. Working through difficulties as a household will offer the Carters a venue to communicate openly while also allowing a therapist to ensure that everyone is recognized. The use of African-American ethnic identity concepts will aid James and his parents in comprehending his perspectives (Gibson et al., 2021) and, as a result, resolving their family issues. The strategy will help the parents become aware of ways to engage with James’ influence behavior. These models are critical in therapeutic mental health treatment because they improve cultural competency knowledge.
The gender equality paradigm focuses on being aware of current cultural norms around gender identity and expression. These standards, seen in linguistic and pronoun patterns, encourage a binary gender interpretation, such as man versus woman. The gender equality module is divided into five sections: work-life balance, inclusive hiring, voice equality, equal compensation for equal labor, and work atmosphere. Employing the gender equality model will enable Sarah’s brothers to understand that both genders are equal and the whole responsibility of taking care of their mother does not need to fall on Sarah only (Gibson et al., 2021). Furthermore, Sarah will explain the situation in her household of her and Raymond working full time; therefore, there would not be anyone at the house with their mother all day. The model of gender equality will solve conflict and create an understanding in households and promote optimal wellness.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Carters have a lot of space for progress and development. The family’s recovery will be aided by utilizing Riverbend City’s facilities and effective tactics. With an understanding of racial developmental approaches and applying the personal self-model to foster wellbeing and resilience, their problems as a multiracial household will diminish. The gender equity model will serve an essential part in creating an understanding between Sarah and her siblings concerning their mother’s problem. Family counselling can assist multiracial families in strengthening strained relationships with children or other family relatives.
References
Gentry, K., Snyder, K., Barstow, B., & Hamson-Utley, J. (2018). The biopsychological model: Application to occupational therapy practices. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 6(4), 24-36. Web.
Gibson, M. D., Pence, C., Kennedy, S. D., Gerlach, J., Degges-White, S., & Watson, J. (2021). Development of the counselor wellness competencies.Journal of Counselor Leadership and Advocacy, 8(2), 130-145. Web.
Lee, E., Tsang, A. K. T., Bogo, M., Johnstone, M., & Herschman, J. (2018). Enactment of racial microaggression in everyday therapeutic encounters.Smith College Studies in Social Work, 88(3), 211-236. Web.