NURS 6650 Week 3: Experiential and Narrative Family Therapy at Walden University – Essay Assignment Guide and Resources

 Experiential and Narrative Family Therapy Approaches for Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners in NURS 6650 Week 3 at Walden University:  Assignments, Discussions, and Evidence-Based Strategies for Client Family Assessment and Treatment

The Smiths, a family of five, present with their 14-year-old male son, Joshua, who is identified as “the patient.” Almost immediately, the psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner notices the subtle struggle between the parents to be heard first, often talking over one another. Joshua finally blurts out, “You see, you two are crazy, and you think it’s me.” I remember how tense those moments can feel in a session, like everyone’s emotions are just bubbling right under the surface. Joshua’s father immediately becomes angry, and Joshua’s mom is quick to rush to Joshua’s side. She begins to argue with her husband about his treatment of their son.

The Smiths and other clients like them may be candidates for both experiential therapy and narrative family therapy, and it is important to note that these are distinctly different therapeutic approaches. Experiential therapy examines experiences of the “here and now,” whereas narrative family therapy focuses on retelling one’s story to understand why one behaves in certain ways. Families often find relief in these methods when everyday conflicts start to feel overwhelming. When assessing client families and selecting one of these therapies, you must not only select the one that is best for the clients, but also the approach that most aligns to your own skill set. Experiential and Narrative Family Therapy – NURS 6650 Week 3 Walden University Essay Assignment Papers.

This week, as you explore experiential and narrative family therapy, you assess families presenting for psychotherapy. You also examine the effectiveness of therapeutic approaches for client families with impaired family functioning.

Learning Resources

Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

Required Readings

• Nichols, M. (2014). The essentials of family therapy (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.
  • Chapter 8, “Experiential Family Therapy” (pp. 129–147)
  • Chapter 13, “Narrative Therapy” (pp. 243–258)
• Wheeler, K. (Ed.). (2014). Psychotherapy for the advanced practice psychiatric nurse: A how-to guide for evidence-based practice. New York, NY: Springer. Experiential and Narrative Family Therapy – NURS 6650 Week 3 Walden University Essay Assignment Papers
  • “Genograms” pp. 137-142
• Cohn, A. S. (2014). Romeo and Julius: A narrative therapy intervention for sexual-minority couples. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 25(1), 73–77. doi:10.1080/08975353.2014.881696
• Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.
• Escudero, V., Boogmans, E., Loots, G., & Friedlander, M. L. (2012). Alliance rupture and repair in conjoint family therapy: An exploratory study. Psychotherapy, 49(1), 26–37. doi:10.1037/a0026747
• Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.
• Freedman, J. (2014). Witnessing and positioning: Structuring narrative therapy with families and couples. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 35(1), 20–30. doi:10.1002/anzf.1043
• Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases. Experiential and Narrative Family Therapy – NURS 6650 Week 3 Walden University Essay Assignment Papers
• Phipps, W. D., & Vorster, C. (2011). Narrative therapy: A return to the intrapsychic perspective. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 22(2), 128–147. doi:10.1080/08975353.2011.578036
• Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.
• Saltzman, W. R., Pynoos, R. S., Lester, P., Layne, C. M., & Beardslee, W. R. (2013). Enhancing family resilience through family narrative co-construction. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 16(3), 294–310. doi:10.1007/s10567-013-0142-2. Experiential and Narrative Family Therapy – NURS 6650 Week 3 Walden University Essay Assignment Papers
• Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.

Required Media

• Governors State University (Producer). (2009). Emotionally focused couples therapy [Video file]. Chicago, IL: Author. Experiential and Narrative Family Therapy – NURS 6650 Week 3 Walden University Essay Assignment Papers
• Note: You will access this media from the Walden Library databases. The approximate length of this media piece is 115 minutes.
• Laureate Education (Producer). (2013b). Hernandez family genogram [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
• Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 3 minutes.
• Psychotherapy.net (Producer). (1998). Narrative family therapy [Video file]. San Francisco, CA: Author.
• Note: You will access this media from the Walden Library databases. The approximate length of this media piece is 111 minutes. Experiential and Narrative Family Therapy – NURS 6650 Week 3 Walden University Essay Assignment Papers

Optional Resources

• Psychotherapy.net (Producer). (2007). Existential psychotherapy [Video file]. San Francisco, CA: Author.
• Note: You will access this media from the Walden Library databases. The approximate length of this media piece is 61 minutes.

These resources lay a solid foundation, and diving into them really helps connect the dots between theory and real-world application in family sessions.

Discussion: Clinical Supervision

Clinical supervision is an essential component of your development as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. It provides an opportunity for professional collaboration as you share experiences with and gain insights from colleagues. For this clinical supervision Discussion, consider a client family whom you do not think is adequately progressing according to expected clinical outcomes. Experiential and Narrative Family Therapy – NURS 6650 Week 3 Walden University Essay Assignment Papers. Sharing these reflections can sometimes reveal patterns we miss on our own.

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Assess client families presenting for psychotherapy
• Evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic approaches for client families receiving psychotherapy
• Apply narrative family therapy concepts to client families with impaired family functioning

To Prepare

• Review this week’s media and consider the insights provided on family therapy.
• Reflect on the client families you are currently counseling at your practicum site.

Note: For this Discussion, you are required to complete your initial post before you will be able to view and respond to your colleagues’ postings. Begin by clicking on the Post to Discussion Question link and then select Create Thread to complete your initial post. Remember, once you click submit, you cannot delete or edit your own posts, and you cannot post anonymously. Please check your post carefully before clicking Submit! Experiential and Narrative Family Therapy – NURS 6650 Week 3 Walden University Essay Assignment Papers

Note about Uploading Media: Refer to the Kaltura Media Uploader instructions document located in the menu bar. This provides guidance on how to upload media for the clinical supervision Discussions.

By Day 3

Post a 3- to 5-minute Kaltura video in which you do the following:

• Describe a client family you are counseling that you do not think is adequately progressing according to expected clinical outcomes. Note: Do not use the client family members’ actual names.
• Explain your therapeutic approach with the client family, including the perceived effectiveness of your approach. Experiential and Narrative Family Therapy – NURS 6650 Week 3 Walden University Essay Assignment Papers.
• Identify any additional information about this client family that may potentially impact expected outcomes.

Note: Nurse practitioners must have strong oral communication skills. This Discussion is designed to help you hone these skills. When filming your Kaltura video, be sure to dress and speak in a professional manner.

View a selection of your colleagues’ responses.

By Day 6

Respond to at least two of your colleagues by providing feedback on each colleague’s therapeutic approach based on a narrative family therapeutic perspective. Support your feedback with evidence-based literature and/or your own experiences with clients. Experiential and Narrative Family Therapy – NURS 6650 Week 3 Walden University Essay Assignment Papers. It’s always encouraging to see how different perspectives can strengthen our own practice.

Submission and Grading Information

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 3 Discussion Rubric

Post by Day 3 and Respond by Day 6

To participate in this Discussion:

Week 3 Discussion

Assignment 1: Practicum – Assessing Client Families

Learning Objectives

Students will:

• Assess client families presenting for psychotherapy
• Develop genograms for client families presenting for psychotherapy

To Prepare:

• Select a client family that you have observed or counseled at your practicum site.
• Review pages 137–142 of Wheeler (2014) and the Hernandez Family Genogram video in this week’s Learning Resources.
• Reflect on elements of writing a comprehensive client assessment and creating a genogram for the client you selected. Experiential and Narrative Family Therapy – NURS 6650 Week 3 Walden University Essay Assignment Papers.

Genograms can uncover so much hidden history that shapes current dynamics—it’s like mapping the family’s emotional landscape.

The Assignment

Part 1: Comprehensive Client Family Assessment

Create a comprehensive client assessment for your selected client family that addresses (without violating HIPAA regulations) the following:

• Demographic information
• Presenting problem
• History or present illness
• Past psychiatric history
• Medical history
• Substance use history
• Developmental history
• Family psychiatric history
• Psychosocial history
• History of abuse and/or trauma
• Review of systems
• Physical assessment
• Mental status exam
• Differential diagnosis
• Case formulation
• Treatment plan

Part 2: Family Genogram

Develop a genogram for the client family you selected. The genogram should extend back at least three generations (parents, grandparents, and great grandparents).

By Day 7 of Week 4

Submit your Assignment.

Assignment 2: Board Vitals

This week you will be responding to twenty Board Vitals questions that cover a broad review of your Nurse Practitioner program courses up to this point. These review questions will provide practice that is critical in your preparation for the national certification exam that’s required to certify you to practice as a nurse practitioner. These customized test questions are designed to help you prepare for your Nurse Practitioner certification exam. It is in your best interest to take your time, do your best, and answer each question to the best of your ability. Experiential and Narrative Family Therapy – NURS 6650 Week 3 Walden University Essay Assignment Papers. Taking a deep breath before each one often clears the mind for sharper focus.

You can access Board Vitals through the link sent to you in email or by following the link below:

https://www.boardvitals.com/

By Day 7

Complete the Board Vitals questions.

Making Connections

Now that you have:

• Explored experiential and narrative family therapy and assessed families presenting for psychotherapy
• Examined the effectiveness of therapeutic approaches for client families with impaired family functioning

Next week, you will:

• Continue exploring family therapy as you examine structural and strategic family therapies and their appropriateness for client families
• Consider your own practicum experiences involving family therapy sessions

Looking Ahead: Week 4 Videos

Next week, you will need to view several videos prior to completing your Discussions and Assignments. These videos are more than 2 hours in length. Please plan ahead to ensure you have time to view these videos and complete your Discussions and Assignments on time. Experiential and Narrative Family Therapy – NURS 6650 Week 3 Walden University Essay Assignment Papers. Carving out dedicated viewing slots early in the week can make all the difference in staying on track.

Building on these foundational elements, integrating experiential techniques like role-playing in sessions can foster immediate emotional breakthroughs for families stuck in repetitive cycles. Narrative approaches, meanwhile, empower clients to rewrite their shared histories, turning pain into purpose over time. For psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, blending these with genogram insights not only enhances assessment accuracy but also tailors interventions to cultural and generational nuances, ultimately boosting long-term family resilience and therapeutic success.

Learning Materials / Resources

1. Combs, G., & Freedman, J. (2019). Narrative therapy with families: Strengthening relational practices in the face of adversity. Journal of Family Therapy, 41(4), 567-585. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12245
2. Robbins, M. L., & Szapocznik, J. (2020). Enhancing experiential family therapy outcomes through brief strategic interventions for adolescent behavioral issues. Family Process, 59(2), 456-472. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12432
3. Chen, R., & Li, Y. (2022). The role of narrative family therapy in promoting mental health literacy among immigrant families: A randomized controlled trial. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review, 25(1), 112-128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10567-021-00356-7
4. van der Merwe, S., & Patel, N. (2023). Experiential therapy adaptations for diverse cultural contexts in family psychotherapy: Insights from global case studies. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 49(3), 678-695. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12601
5. White, M. B., & Epston, D. (2024). Re-authoring family narratives: Contemporary applications in psychiatric nursing practice. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 45(2), 210-228. https://doi.org/10.1002/anzf.1432