Return to the Archive Page

IN THIS ISSUE Using Experiential Activities in Family Counseling Presidents’ Message Fundamental, Using Games with Families 1999 Family and President’s Award 2000 Annual Conference

EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
as ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT
IN HOME-BASED SETTINGS

By: Jill Clark, MSW

Home-based family counselors are continually looking for ways to better assess and provide effective interventions for the families we serve. Experiential activities provide an ongoing and flexible tool for assessment and intervention that allows consumers to maintain maximum control of their own goals and treatment.

Home-based work with families is most effective when a strengths-based approach is used. Working with the family from a strengths’ perspective gives clients control. The individual or family’s strengths and abilities are defined by the client and treatment is determined by the family. The experiential approach to therapy enhances the ability of the client to be in charge of their treatment.

The philosophy of experiential counseling is based on the assumption that the client has the skills and resources for positive personal change and growth (Gerstein, 1994). It is an action-oriented approach to counseling most often used in conjunction with other therapies. For example, Gass (1993), describes how adventure therapy can be utilized with structural and strategic family therapy. From these perspectives experiential activities are used to create metaphors for families. Insights gained from these can be used by the therapist and family to promote positive change or growth. Families are able to explore alternatives to behaviors and then practice them through an experiential experience. It provides:

• assessment and insight
  
• clients an opportunity to succeed
  
• opportunity for families to observe and experience strengths
  
• a safe environment for families to practice new roles or behaviors
  
• and an opportunity for positive interactions.

The experiential approach to counseling occurs in a setting that is natural for a family. The counselor is able to gather first hand information regarding family roles, communication patterns, problem-solving methods, and family interactions. Through processing experiential activities, interventions can be integrated within the family’s natural interactions. By stopping the activity and processing at periodic intervals, the family can be asked to explore the consequences of their behaviors. The family begins to acknowledge and change destructive patterns by developing cues to interrupt these established routines.
Experiential activities promote positive change by encouraging clients to use and practice their strengths. The flexibility of experiential activities allows the client to determine goals, outcomes, and process learning and insights. Experiential therapy is a tool that enhances or makes more effective other therapies used in conjunction with this model.

Wednesday evening at the Annual conference a dinner was held for all the participants. After enjoying a fine dinner and being entertained by Marion Lindbald-Goldberg, our dinner speaker, time was spent honoring our Presidents’ Award winners for 1999.

A new award was introduced this year, the Family Award. Two families were recognized. Arbor Circle of Grand Rapids nominated the Heitzman family, who were not able to be present. Staff from Arbor Circle accepted the gift on behalf of the family.

Chris Fountain a counselor from Highfields Inc., nominated the Martinez family. Angel Martinez was able to attend the conference and was presented with a gift at the ceremony.

Two dedicated Board members were honored for their years of service with a President’s Award. Lynn Heemstra and Terry Mehran have both served the Board as active members for several years.

Lynn had been on the Board since 1995. Lynn joined as a representative of Arbor Circle. In her time with the Association Lynn was active with the Training committee assisting in planning the annual conference and had recently held the office of Vice President and Co-chair of the Public Education Committee.

Also in 1995, Terry Mehran joined the Board as a representation from the Department of Community Health. During his tenure with the Board, Terry worked actively with the Membership Committee. Terry was actively involved in the development of the Michigan Home-Based web-site and exploring the concept of "family partners" for the Association.

Both relinquished their Board seats when new career responsibilities placed additional expectations on them. It was with great regret that the Board accepted their resignation. It was only fitting that they should be honored with a President’ Award as part of their last interactions with the Association. Thank you Lynn and Terry for your hard work and dedication, you will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.

In today's world, it is a challenge for families to schedule time to do things together. Here is an old idea that has many great benefits for kids and adults--Family Game Night.

Games are a fun way to spend quality time together as a family and to learn more about each other. The best way to begin is to agree on an evening of the week so that everyone can participate. Then treat this evening as sacred and don't allow other activities to be scheduled!

With Family Game Night firmly established on your family calendar, elect a different family member each week to select the games and treats. When children are encouraged to make choices, they gain skills in planning, following through, decision making, and responsibility. What a fun way to teach these skills!

The UNGAME is a great game and is sold in two ways. You can purchase the complete board game or just buy the cards at your local book or toy store. Either method allows each player a chance to read questions from the cards and provide answers for all to hear and respond to. Older children will especially appreciate the questions that challenge them to "Tell It Like It Is."

The UNGAME is both fun and educational because it improves listening skills, promotes fairness, gives permission to express feelings, creates a safe place for honesty, enhances self-discovery, and raises self-esteem. Looking for a game geared to younger children? Then UNO may be for you. This fast-paced game combines fun with basic skill development. Younger children learn to match colors, numbers, and to count. Other skills needed to play this game include patience, taking turns, focusing and paying attention, and the ever-important: following rules! UNO requires at least two players, and there are different ways to play the game. This popular game is available at most department and toy stores.

Whether you choose a board game, a card game, a game like Pictionary or one you create yourselves, everyone benefits when families spend time together. And that's FUNdamental!

This is the first Winter Issue the Michigan Home-Based Association has printed in several years. We are excited about offering more information to our members. This issue will celebrate activities held at our Annual Conference. The conference is such an important aspect of the Association, we felt this effort should receive more attention. Hopefully with the support of the members, like those who provided articles for this publication, we can continue to offer more issues of Practice.
The Board and the various committees are hard at work on projects planned for the year 2000. At a planning meeting held in December, interested members of the Association met to form Committees and set goals for the upcoming year. There are currently four active committees, the Executive Committee, Training, Membership and Public Education.
The Executive Committee is working on consolidating all Association information and placing it on computer disc for future use and access.

The Training Committee is already busy planning next year’s Annual Conference which will be held in Frankenmuth. Look for details on the last page of this issue. They have also set a goal to hold at least one, one-day training some time in the Spring.
The Membership Committee is busy with their new membership drive which for the first time is being separated from the annual conference to allow for better tracking. This will hopefully clear up problems we have had in the past with inaccurate mailing lists. The Membership committee is also working hard on improving the Association web site. Log-on again, I think you will be pleased with the new look. www.michhomebased.com

Public Education has set a goal to increase the number of issues of Practice that are published each year. For this goal to be successful the membership will need to submit more articles and news for publication.

We are looking forward to another great year, if you are interested in becoming more involved in the Association or one of the Committees contact us at 3400 S. Cedar St., Suite 201 Lansing, MI 48910 (517) 887-2762.

1999 President’s Award winner Lynn Heemstra

Terry Mehran, 1999 President’s Award recipient

The President’s Award is presented each year at the MHBFSA annual conference. Individuals workers, Agencies and Families can be nominated for outstanding and innovative contributions to Home-Based services.

Please send a one page letter of nomination.

c/o Gillian Peck Public Education, Chair
P.O. Box 98 Onondaga, MI 49264
or by fax (517) 628-3421