Caring for families isn't all social policy, of course. Victor Nelson, a pastoral counselor and marriage and family therapist, explains how enhancing the traditions and rituals families have used for ages can make families more nurturing for adults and children alike. He'd appreciate your comments at 505 Evergreen, West Lafayette, IN 47906. I n my work with families in the church and in family therapy during the past 14 years, I have learned much about the complexity of family life and the demands placed on it.
Global concerns interfacing with daily concerns strain the family's resources.
Coping with change while maintaining family health is a delicate balance. My own family may reflect something of the nature of this balancing act, and it's likely yours does as well. We have a two-career household with the attendant demands on each adult. It's challenging to work with families in therapy and come home to leaking faucets, a marriage that often gets too little attention, and teenagers navigating the storms of adolescence. I have come to appreciate the wealth of resources within families for solving problems, resolving conflicts, and managing the host of stresses that families face.