Strengthening Family Resilience Facilitating Healing & Positive Growth

From Adversity

Centro di Psicologia e Analisi TransazionaleMilan, Italy ~ June 25, 2012

Froma Walsh, PhD

Co-Director, Chicago Center for Family HealthFirestone Professor Emerita, The University of Chicago

fwalsh@uchicago.edu www.ccfhchicago.org

Myth: Healthy Families are Problem-Free

Chronic Stress -- The “New Normal”

ResilienceStrengths in the context of adversity

The ability to withstandand rebound from

stressful life challenges ---emerging

strengthened and more resourceful

ResilienceHow we Deal with Adversity

Coping + Adaptation + Positive Growth

More than Surviving: Ability to ThriveTransformation

Crisis = Challenge + Opportunity

!

Varied Images of Resilience ~

Popular view: “Just Bounce back!”

~ “A tree that bends in the stormbut does not break”

~ “Suffering that is deep but not without hope”

~ “Fall down 5 times; get up 6 times!”

Many Varied Pathways in Resilience: Positive Development ~ Future Life Vision

Myth:

The Rugged Individual

Invulnerable

Self-Reliant

“We encourage people to rescue themselves”

Studies of Resilient Youth: Models and Mentors

Resilience is Nurtured in Relationships:

To thrive,

Individuals need “Relational Lifelines”:

Supportive Bonds, Models & Mentors who:

Believe in their Worth and Potential Draw out, Affirm Strengths, Abilities Inspire Hopes and Dreams Encourage Best Efforts See Failures as Opportunities for Learning, Growth Celebrate Successes

Nourishing Bonds

Relational Resilience:

Mutual Support

Identify and Draw on Extended Family Resources

Guardian Angel

Multigenerational Family Tree

Family Photos, Stories of Resilience

Bonds with Companion Animals

Pet Role -- Child Resilience in Family Transition

Strengthen:

Family Community Cultural&SpiritualResources

Strengthening Resilience: Relational Lifelines

~~~~~~~~~~Facilitate coping and positive growth

Through Vital Connections: Family network

Social and community Cultural and Spiritual

Family Resilience

Team Effort CollaborationMutual Support Leadership

Walsh Family Resilience Framework

Integrates 3 decades of research on resilience & effective family functioning to inform, guide clinical & community-based services, prevention programs

Identify & strengthen key family processes & multi-systemic resources for coping, adaptation, and positive growth

Use in Community-based settings; wide range of applications, formats: – Family Consultation; Brief Counseling; Family Therapy– Multi-family Groups; Workshops; Community Forums

Family Resilience

Strengths & Resources for Families to Thrivein the face of Adversity

Rebound from Crises Navigate Disruptive Changes

Weather Multi-stress Conditions Overcome Obstacles to Success

Chicago Center for Family HealthResilience-Oriented Program Applications

– Recover from Crisis, Trauma, Loss• Traumatic Loss; Community Disaster • Refugees; War-related trauma; Military families

– Navigate Disruptive Life Changes• Migration; Separation / Divorce; Foster Care

– Cope, manage Multi-Stress Conditions• e.g. Chronic illness, Disabilities • Financial strain, Unemployment• Ongoing complex trauma; Neighborhood blight

– Overcome Barriers to Success• At-risk youth: Family - School Partnership;

– L.A. Gang Prevention / Youth Development

KEYS TO FAMILY RESILIENCEBelief Systems

1. Making Meaning of Crisis & Challenge2. Positive Outlook: Hope – Master the Possible3. Transcendence & Spirituality

Organizational Resources

4. Flexibility / Stability5. Connectedness; Leadership6. Kin, Social, & Economic Resources: “Lifelines”

Communication Processes

7. Clear, consistent messages8. Emotional Sharing; Pain /Humor / Joy /respite9. Collaborative Problem-solving / Proaction

Belief Systems

The Heart and Soul of Resilience

Rooted in Cultural & Spiritual Heritage

Multigenerational Legacies

Dominant Society Norms, Values, Biases

Past Experience & Future Expectations

The Power of Beliefs

Seeing is believing~ Western view

We must believe in somethingTo be able to see it

~ Native American view

We do not see things as they are --We see them as we are.

~ The Talmud

1. Meaning -Making Encourage Relational View of Resilience

Normalize, Contextualize Distress, – De-pathologize Blame, Shame, Stigma, Guilt

Gain Sense of Coherence– View Crisis as Shared Challenges:

• Meaningful, Comprehensible, Manageable

Appraise Situation; Options:

Facilitative vs. Constraining Beliefs:– Explain Events, causal: – Future expectations / catastrophic fears:

What can we do? Active Agency

2. Positive Outlook Instill Hope;

– En-Courage; build Confidence

Affirm Strengths, Abilities; – Build on Potential

Active Initiative & Perseverance– Seize Opportunities

Master the Possible Accept what can't be changed

Tolerate uncertainty

Master the Art of the Possible:

Do all you can With what you have

In the time you have In the place you are

3. Transcendence ~ Spirituality Larger Values, Purpose

Spiritual Resources: Faith, Practices, Community, Nature

Inspiration: Envision New Possibilities– Aspirations: Role Models, Life dreams – Invention; Innovative Solutions – Creative Expression--writing, art, music

Transformation: Learning, Change, & Growth– Redirect life priorities; deepen bonds– Compassion Acts to Benefit Others

• Service, activism, social justice

Spirituality: a Dimension of Human Experience

We are Bio-psycho-social-spiritual Beings

~~~~~~~~~~

Streams of influence flowing through all aspects of lifeo Family & Cultural Heritage o Transcendent Beliefs, Spiritual Practices, Community

Within or outside religion: we can express:o humanistic values, nature, the arts, social action

Fosters Meaning, Wholeness, Harmony Deep Connection within Self & With all Others Influences Suffering; Promotes Healing & Resilience

Family Organization Relational Shock Absorbers

4. Flexibility -- to change, Adapt Provide Stability --Structure, Reliability

Leadership - Nurture, Protect, Guide

5. Connectedness -- Mutual SupportCommitment, collaboration, caregiving

• Social, Community, Larger Systems Workplace, Healthcare, Child / Elder care

Overcome odds / Change odds to thrive

Communication Processes 7. Clear, consistent messages

-- Information: Truth seeking / speaking

8. Share Feelings; Respect Differences -- Suffering, Struggle, Fear, Regrets -- Pride, Appreciation, Joy, Humor, Fun

-- Respite: Refuel Energies & Spirit

9. Collaborative Problem-Solving -- Build Resourcefulness

-- Celebrate successes; learn from mistakes -- Be Proactive: Planning, Preparedness

Families are Sanctuaries

of Life and Love

Family Resilience Practice Framework

Shift Focus from family Deficits, Limitations to Strengths, Potential, Hopes & Dreams

Developmental, Systemic Perspective•Bio-Psycho-Social-Spiritual Influences•Family Challenged by Adversity –timeline: stress events•Family Response: Facilitates Adaptation

of all Members, Relationships, Family Unit

Relational View of Human ResilienceResilience-focused genogram: identify kin, social, community, spiritual resources

•Recruit models, mentors •Build relational life-lines, teams, networks

• Varied Challenges and Pathways in Resilience:

• No single model fits all families, their values, situations, & challenges

Prevention: • By strengthening resilience, families and their members become more resourceful to meet future challenges.

Facilitating Family Resilience : Practice Guidelines

• Core Conviction in Strengths, Potential of all Families, alongside Vulnerabilities, Limitations

• Language, Framing to Depathologize, Humanize

• Contextualize Distress; Decrease Shame, Blame

• Compassion for Suffering, Struggle, Losses

• View Crisis as Opportunity: Learning, Healing, & Positive Growth

• Shift Focus from Problems to Possibilities for Mastery, Thriving, Relational RepairSteps toward Future Vision: Hopes and Dreams

• Integrate Challenges and Resilience into the Fabric of Personal & Relational Lives.

Guidelines to Facilitate Healing, Resiliencefrom Complicated or Traumatic Loss

Start by grounding in their family, community,

cultural, & spiritual connections. Invite them to share their loss experience. Offer compassionate witnessing of recent (&

ongoing) losses, hardships, or injustices suffered. Draw out, affirm strengths in coping efforts; Link with kin, community resources Re-member persons & relationships lost;

• Continuing Bonds: Spiritual connection, Stories, Deeds

Future orientation: renew / revise hopes, dreams

Resilience of theHuman Spirit

Let nothing dim the light that shines from within ~ Maya Angelou

ThePowerOfConnection

In strengthening resilience,

We strive to integrate the experience

of adversity-- and our resilient response –

Into the fabric of our individual and shared identity,

Influencing how we go on to live our lives.

“A hero is one who doesthe best of thingsin the worst of timesSeizing every opportunity.”

--Joseph Campbell

References

Walsh, F. (2006 / 2011). Strengthening Family Resilience. (2nd ed.) Guilford.Walsh, F. (Ed.). (2009). Spiritual Resources in Family Therapy. (2nd ed.) Walsh, F. (2012). Normal Family Processes: Growing Diversity & Complexity.

4th ed. Guilford. Walsh, F. (2007). Traumatic loss and major disaster: Strengthening family

and community resilience. Family Process, 46, 207-227.Walsh, F. (2003). Family resilience: A framework for clinical practice. Family

Process, 42 (1),1-18Walsh, F. (2009). Human-animal bonds: I. The relational significance of companion animals. Special section, Family Process, 48(4) 462-480.

Walsh, F. (2009). Human-Animal bonds: II. The role of pets in family systems and family therapy. Special section, Family Process 48(4), 481-499.

Walsh, F. (2010). Spiritual diversity: Multifaith perspectives in family therapy.Family Process, 49 330-348.

Walsh, F. & McGoldrick, M. (Eds.).(2004). Living Beyond Loss (2e.) Norton.

Walsh, F. (2011). Family resilience: A collaborative approach in response to stressful life challenges. In S. Southwick, D. Charney, B. Litz, & M. Freedman, (Eds.) Resilience and mental health: Challenges across the life span. (pp. 149-161). New York: Cambridge University Press.

Walsh, F. (2011). Resilience in families with health challenges. In M. Kraft-Rosenberg, & S.-R. Pehler, (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Family Health, (895-899).Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Walsh, F. (2011). Facilitating Family Resilience: Relational resources for positive youth development in conditions of adversity. In M. Ungar (Ed.) The social ecology of resilience. Springer.

Walsh, F. (2012). Successful aging and family resilience. In B. Haslip & G. Smith (Eds.) Emerging Perspectives on Resilience in Adulthood and Later Life. New York: Springer.

Walsh, F. (In press). Community-based practice applications of a family resilience framework. In D. Becvar (Ed.), Handbook of familyresilience. New York: Springer.

References (Cont’d)