The Family Journal

According to U.S. Census Bureau data (2003), intercultural relationships are on the rise, and much has been written on cultural differences in marriage. Furthermore, a significant amount of literature has discussed differences in parenting based on racial, ethnic, and religious value differences between culturally different families. However, much less has been written on how parenting amplifies differences because of cultural diversity within a family. The purpose of this article is a review of the literature specifically on intercultural parenting. Differences that arise in intercultural relationships are briefly reviewed, followed by how those differences can be managed. Finally, a review of the literature specific to intercultural differences in parenting style and the development of a transcultural family is discussed.

This article presents a formula for calculating dyadic complexity in groups, families, and other organizations and relational systems. Illustrations of increased dyadic complexity as a function of the increase in organization size are presented as well as a discussion of the dyadic concept as the foundational unit of communication within systems. The article concludes with a discussion of the utility of the dyadic complexity formula as a research tool.

Paradoxically, although second marriages have a significantly higher divorce rate than first marriages, the couples in functional and stable second marriages take greater pride and report higher satisfaction in their marriage than couples in their first marriage. This article presents an assessment/treatment program for second marriages to help couples “beat the odds” and establish a satisfying, stable marital bond of respect, trust, and intimacy. A case example presents a positive model of learning from the past and taking pride and satisfaction in the second marriage and stepfamily.

This study experimentally examines the speaker-listener technique on marital satisfaction and communication behaviors when couples (N = 30) were instructed to either discuss an issue within or outside the marriage on marital satisfaction and communication behaviors. This study was based the Gottman et al. hypothesis that the speaker-listener technique would lead to improved marital satisfaction when the couple is discussing a third-party issue, but discussing an issue about each other would weaken the marital relationship. A series of analyses of covariance were conducted on these data, and no differences were found between the two groups on their self-reported marital satisfaction or communication skills behaviors, which were not support the Gottman et al. hypothesis. Possible interpretations of these data and areas for further investigation are suggested.

Recent couple counseling research has identified the common factors in long-term relationships. With this increased understanding of common factors, couple counselors can focus on interventions that affect common factors to improve couple relationships. Researchers have found the focus on improving common factors in couple relationships is effective in improving couple stability and satisfaction. Although researchers have not considered couple play as an intervention to affect common factors, couples counselors and theorists have proposed a strong relationship between play and successful, long-term couple relationships. The research on adult play and humor also support the possibility for couple play as an intervention in couples counseling. The possible positive effects of couple play on common factors and implications for interventions are discussed.

African American girls face unique challenges in identity development, and African American mothers have the unique task of preparing them to face racism and sexism. This study examines specific socialization messages given to African American daughters by mothers and the relationship between gendered racial socialization and communication. Results suggest that mothers give a variety of messages, including self-determination, self-pride, and religion. Correlations are found between reports of communication patterns. Communication is found to be positively related to self-esteem in daughters. Socialization messages on embracing mainstream values are negatively related to self-esteem.

An understanding of one's own and his or her partner's cultural heritage is an essential aspect to enhancing the relationship. In this article, the authors introduced the Cultural Relationship Interview Matrix. It is a form for couples to complete individually and then to interview each other. The purpose is for bringing awareness to their respective cultural heritage and for enhancing their communication. Four activities and seven tables are included in the suggested exercises.

Robert Chope is a professor of counseling at San Francisco State University, where he coordinates the Career Counseling Program. He is also the founder of the Career and Personal Development Institute in San Francisco, a practice that he has had for more than 25 years. Dr. Chope received his PhD from the University of Minnesota, Department of Psychology, where his dissertation advisor was David P. Campbell of the Strong-Campbell and Campbell Interest and Skills Inventory fame. His undergraduate work was at Harvard University, where he was heavily influenced and mentored by B. F. Skinner.

Dr. Chope is a licensed psychologist and a licensed marriage and family therapist. He is the author of Dancing Naked: Breaking Through the Emotional Limits That Keep You From the Job You Want and Shared Confinement: Healing Options for You and the Agoraphobic in Your Life, both published by New Harbinger Publications, and Family Matters: The Influence of the Family in Career Decision Making by Pro-Ed. He has been heard on more than 100 radio and television shows around the country and is regularly featured in newspapers and online journals. Recently, he was the subject of interviews on eWeek, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, and Cosmopolitan Magazine. In the San Francisco Bay Area, he has been on NPR, KQED Forum, KUSF Forum, and KCBS Sunday Morning radio stations and KPIX, KRON, KTVU, and UPN 44 television stations. He is a fellow of the National Career Development Association (NCDA), a winner of the Robert Swan Lifetime Achievement in Career Counseling Award, and a winner of the 2004 NCDA outstanding career practitioner of the year award.

An interview with Robert Chope, PhD, concerning his contributions in career counseling revealed many opportunities to integrate career and family counseling. The interview explored the evolution of career counseling and the inclusion of family systems perspectives. Case examples were provided.

This article examines the family roles and ethics of first-generation college students and their families through discussion of a case vignette. London's family roles applied to first-generation college students are discussed. Narrative therapy practices and an ethical model that examines the value process of counselors are explored as possible solutions.

Family therapists almost invariably will encounter family members who aggressively interrupt other members in an attempt to communicate their version of a particular story or express their emotions. This article presents a technique that I have found effective for helping couples and family members contain their impulsive urge to interrupt other members' self-expressions.

A growing population of Asian immigrants to the United States amplifies the need for helping professionals to gain knowledge regarding the adjustment processes among these groups. Unless counselors who are trained in Western systems models are able to modify their approaches to work with non-Western families, the therapy process may not be enlightening to these families. One Asian ethnic group, the Japanese, has a long history of immigration and a strong multigenerational presence in the United States. To contribute to the literature addressing clinical work with a specific Asian immigrant group, a case study is presented as an example of how culturally sensitive assessment and treatment can be provided to a Japanese immigrant family.

Counselors pride themselves on their developmental focus; however, they have generally only applied phasic theories to counseling practice and have not incorporated constructive “stage” theories into clinical work. This article begins to rectify that lack by explicating the relevance of Kegan's subject-object theory for counseling practice, by reviewing Kegan's “imperial” stage, and by applying the theory to cases in which at least one of the clients operates primarily out of the imperial stage, cases that include families and/or couples in some way. This is the third in a series of articles on Kegan's theory, begun in The Family Journal in July 2006 with an interview of Kegan and an overview of his theory.

Spiritual issues routinely surface in doing individual and couples therapy when chronic illness is present. In fact, there is a predictive pattern of spiritual and life meaning issues that clients face in coming to terms with chronic illness. These issues can be effectively processed in therapy with a modified form of Cognitive Behavioral Analysis System of Psychotherapy (CBASP). The article describes this pattern of spiritual issues and then illustrates this therapeutic intervention with a case study including a session transcription.