This paper describes the process of "coaching" individuals in their efforts to change themselves in the context of their nuclear and parental family systems. Although this approach is regarded as one of the major modes of intervention in family therapy, the actual methods and techniques for intervention are not widely understood. Moreover, we have expanded the Bowen approach to address powerful cultural and family life cycle influences. The goal of coaching is to help clients define themselves proactively in relationship to others in their families without emotionally cutting off or giving in. Coaching begins by training clients to become observers and researchers of their own role in the family and of family patterns of behavior. Coaching then moves to help them bring their behavior more in line with their deepest beliefs, even if this means upsetting family members by disobeying family "rules."
This article explores the broader context in which child sexual abuse occurs and the ethic of blame with respect to mothers of victims. It is based on in-depth interviews with 24 mothers after their children's disclosure, interviews with 15 experts in this area, and an analysis of child welfare case records. It concludes that policy and practice based on familist ideology results in a service delivery system that is insensitive to the needs and rights of women and sexually abused children.During the past decade in North America, there has been an epidemic of disclosures of sexual abuse greater than those documented in any previous period in the history of social work. This increase in reported cases of child sexual abuse is challenging social workers in child protection agencies, police officers, judges, physicians, and others who are involved in intervention. Although the attitudes of professionals and the public toward the child victims and perpetrators have gradually changed, the attitudes toward the mothers of victims have not. Mothers continue to be blamed for the victimization of their children, even though it is now generally known that the sexual
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