Identify and describe which stage your family is currently experiencing from the “Family Life
Cycle Framework” in Chapter 2. What are the benefits and deficits connected to this stage?
Your initial thread should be 500 - 600 words (no more) and must be submitted no later than
11:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday.
After submitting your initial thread, please read all of the threads written by your group
members. Prepare a 400 - 500 word reply to one other student's thread no later than 11:59 p.m.
(ET) on Sunday.
According to Goldenberg and Goldenberg (2016), the family life cycle occurs when a family
passes through emotional and intellectual stages from childhood until retirement years. There
are five stages of the family life cycle which include: Independence, Coupling or marriage,
Parenting: Babies/children/adolescents, Launching adult children/empty nest, and Retirement or
senior years. Additionally, each of these stages has a purpose for gaining or developing the skills
needed in order to face and work through challenges during your family’s life. However, not all
families experience a fluid transition when passing through the stages. Traumatic situations,
such as death of a loved one, financial problems, or even an illness can have an effect on how
well you transition between stages. Luckily, skills that are missed in one stage can be learned in
the later stages that follows it. Family life cycle theory suggests that successful transitioning
may also help to prevent disease and emotional or stress-related disorders. Whether you are a
parent or child, brother or sister, bonded by blood or love, your experiences through the family
life cycle will affect who you are and who you become. The more you understand about the
challenges of each stage of the cycle, the more likely you are to successfully move on
(Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2016). I noted some possible influences for hindrances between
stages. Nevertheless, ways that you and your family’s life cycle can be improved is by self-
examination, counseling, and education.
Now that I have given a brief description on what the family life cycle is and how the family life
cycle works, I can discuss the current stage my family is experiencing: Launching adult
children/empty nest. At 36, I am the middle child of three girls. At the time when my older
sister (now 38) left for college, I did not see a change in my parents even though the authors
posit there are both positive and negative consequences of the first child leaving the home. Now
that we are all out of the house, over the years, I could see my parent’s interactions with one
another become more distant as they were always arguing with each other over what I would
consider nonsense. My sister’s and I made the suggestion for them to get a pet to take some of
the attention off of being idle in their home, but the idea still remains at large. According to the
family life cycle, as empty nesters, my parents should be free from the everyday demands of
parenting while they shift their focus towards rekindling their marriage and potential career
goals. My mother has always worked, and likes to work because it gives her something to do.
My father was in retirement for a while after he got hurt on the job. For roughly 3 years now, he
has gone back to work (which is called bridge work) because he started having health concerns
with his high blood pressure, diabetes, and arthritis. Both of my parents have fluctuated back
and forth with their weight throughout the years, which is another reason my father considered
going back to work so that he would be active again. My younger sister has a 15 year old
daughter, who my parents are actively involved with. With my parents having all girls, plus a
granddaughter, they were always strict when it came with us going places without them being
present. Now, they make a conscious effort in being involved with both platonic and intimate
relationships we have. In the text, developing adult relationships with your grown children is a
specific goal to attain in the empty nest stage.
Reference
Goldenberg, I., Stanton, M., & Goldenberg, H. (2016). Family therapy: An overview (9th ed.).
Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing Co.
Reply: 400 words
Hi Sharome,
Thank you for being vulnerable as you shared an intimate part of your family life cycle that is
challenging for you at the moment, as it is “somewhat all over the place”. I pray for strength as
you face the launching and middle age stage of the family life cycle. In your thread, you stated
how your 14 year old has made it hard for your family to deal with her moods, making this stage
stressful to not only her, but to the family as well. In addition, you noted how your 21 year old
was in the unattached adult stage, as she is still living at home. Being the loving parent that you
are, you do not want to stress her about the plans for the next stages in her life, but yet you know
she has no intensions for moving on. Reflecting on my past courses in this program, there are
many reasons why an adult child still lives, or returns to live with their parents after they have
reached the age of legal independence. Cognitive development plays a vital part in one’s ability
to flourish successfully through each stage of life, preparing them for each stage to come.
Cognitive development was once speculated, by Piaget and others, that thinking stabilized by the
end of teen years. Although your 21 year old is past this stage in her life, I strongly believe your
14 year old will take on a different path and be ready to launch when it is time to.
Artificial intelligence is causing children to be raised in an information age where they are using
and relying on technology to expose life through the internet and social media, neglecting the
interactive learning between people that can help develop social skills, critical thinking, and
emotional connections. Looking wise as they are able to regurgitate exactly what they hear from
the internet, hence the term “artificial intelligence”, but lacking in the areas that will allow them
to flourish in society among others. Therefore, this is causing a delay in their development,
forcing them to stay or go back home to their parents, where they first came into contact with
this phenomenon. Economic factors is also contributing to re-nesting. Young adults working
full time are more susceptible to return back home to reside with their parents in order to be more
focused and determined to get ahead while saving money (Burns & Szoeke, 2016). Additionally,
those seeking to continue their education are more likely to return home to live with parents,
increasing the dependence upon them (Burns & Szoeke, 2016).
Reference
Burn, K., & Szoeke, C. (2016). Boomerang families and failure-to-launch: Commentary on adult
children living at home. Maturitas, 83(Jan 2016), 9-12.
In Chapter 7 of the Ripley & Worthington textbook, 4 questions are suggested when considering
treatment planning for couples who have been through the initial intake with the counselor. The
way a counselor answers these important questions will give shape to the entire treatment
process; thus these questions are very important.
From the 4 questions, select 1 to answer. Since all of the questions are important at one time or
another in the counseling process, explain why you feel that the selected question is important, as
well as the possible dangers or problems that might occur if a counselor does not answer it early
or adequately. In your thread, you will use 1 supporting resource (other than your text) you have
found on the topic (Appropriate, Fit, Typical and Relevant), in addition to the primary textbook.
Your thread must be at least 500 words. In addition to the thread, you will prepare a reply of at
least 400 words to 1 classmate’s thread.
Your thread is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Thursday of Module/Week 2, and your reply is due by
11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of the same module/week.
Question: Is couple counseling appropriate for this couple?
Question 2: Is the hope-focused couple approach a good fit for the couple?
Question 3: Does a typical course of counseling need to be altered for this couple?
Question 4: Is the approach relevant to the couple’s perceived need?
References
Ripley, J. S., & Worthington, J. E. L. (2014). Couple therapy : A new hope-focused approach.
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