Family Map Project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Family Map Project - Essay Example They sometimes represent unbalanced relationships in the family that prevents healthy family dynamics. Connected and cohesive levels of family cohesion represent the â€Å"most functional across the life cycle, in part because they balance separateness and togetherness† (Olson, et.al., 2005). Family flexibility is the â€Å"amount of change that occurs in leadership, role relationships, and relationship rules† (Olson, 2003, as quoted by Olson, et.al., 2005). Flexibility refers to the family’s ability to adapt or to adjust to an event and to deal with changes in the family. Flexibility is also categorized into four levels, which are: rigid, structured, flexible and chaotic. The balanced response to change indicates the degree of a family’s flexibility. A rigid family has an extreme resistance to change and the chaotic family leans so much on change that its stability is placed in jeopardy. The structured and flexible family balances stability and change as and when events take place in the family. â€Å"Families need a basic foundation that gives them stability, but they also need to be open to change when necessary† (Olson, et.al., 2005). In order for a family to become stronger as a unit, it needs to accept the inevitability of change and sti ll maintain its stability despite the changes. The third dimension of the couple and family map model is communication. â€Å"Communication is the grease that smoothes frictions between partners and family members† (Olson, et.al., 2005). Communication allows family members to work through and to work out their problems and issues with each other. It involves listening skills, speaking skills, self-disclosure, clarity, staying on topic, and respect and regard. Listening skills include empathy and giving feedback; it is not just hearing the other person speak, but also listening to what the other person wants to say. Speaking skills