Whole Family get

The second domain identi?ed by Swartz Kulstad and Martin is family environment. Because the family is a signi?cant mechanism through which culture is transmitted, and because it is also the primary source of support for most individuals, gaining information about family dynamics is crucial. We know Russian immigrants who came to the United States during World War II who forbade their children to speak anything but English. They gave their children popular English names and pushed them full speed into the culture. We know Laotian refugees determined that their children have the best of both: to excel at all things American and yet retain all things Laotian. We also know Iranian families in deep con?ict because their children have rejected their original cultural values. In all these cases, there is variance in the degree of dependence on the family or adherence to family expectations concerning family roles and hierarchies, communication styles, individuation, and maintenance of culture. In a sense, the family can become a source of great support for an individual, while at the same time, be a cause of great stress as that individual seeks to reconcile family environmental expectations with other systems in which he or she interacts .

Listening to your client along the family dimension might involve covering the following: What is the nature of the overall family environment? Is there a strong nuclear and/or extended family? What is the proximity to, or availability of, family sup392 Interviewing Special Populationsport? What is the level of dependence on the family for support? Ask: “Tell me about your family. How did you grow up? What kinds of things did your parents do? How often does your whole family get together? What happens when all the grandparents and aunts and uncles get together?” Listen for subtle or overt expectations for conformity to family beliefs and values.