A Study on Impact of Workplace on Life

 

UNDERSTANDING IMPACT OF WORKPLACE ON LIFE

1. Aim of the Study: 

    To understand the influence of workplace, and therefore work/employment, on the individual as well as on his/her family life.

2. Objectives:

The objectives of this Study are –

a) To interview one male and one female person who is gainfully employed outside home and

family member (living in the same household) of each of these participants.

b) To understand how the workplace —exosystem, has an impact on microsystem and mesosytem; if any.

c) To gain insights regarding the impact of workplace, and therefore work/employment, on the individual as well as on his/her family life.

d)  To gain family members perspective on the impact of workplace on his/her family.

3. Method:

a) Material Required: Pen/pencil, paper, Notebook and voice recorder.

b) Procedure:

Selected one female respondent name Mr. Darshana Deka, aged about 32 years, who have one six years old boy and respondent’s mother in law and husband in her family. Both husband and wife is teacher; i.e. gainfully employed outside of home. Selected another respondent Mr. Shymanta Das aged about 40 years, who have wife and two kids; one is 12 years old boy and another is  08 years old girl. The respondent is working in Indian Army posted in Kashmir. Both are convinced telephonically by saying my aim and objectives of Study. Both were familiar with me, hence rapport building in interview was easy. Prepared questions for interview of respondents separately and fixed the time schedule. Both the respondents are present in Guwahati; i.e. nearby me. They are denied to use voice recorder, hence I have recorded the interview by pen and paper.

4. Findings/Results:

A. Findings from Female respondent:

i) Impact of exosystem  on microsystem and mesosystem.

          In case of first respondent both the husband and wife has to stay outside whole day due to their school duties. Respondent has to go to school at 7.30 am and returned at 5.30 to 6 pm as she is working I Delhi Public school. Husband goes to school at 8 am and comes to home at 2.30 pm and again go to coaching classes at 3.30 pm to 8.30pm.  Due to this busy work schedule they could not give time to their kid. Even both of them could not give time to each other. The good relationship needs time. As per ecological theory the employment can be considered as exosystem, family can be considered as mesosystem and kid can be considered and microsystem. The employment of respondent affected the relationship of family and the kid here.  

 ii) As per respondent Impact of workplace on family life

The work stress makes their life hell. It is a monotonous work, no adventure, no creativity. The respondent is frustrated by work. In this lockdown period also online classes and coaching making their life as busy as in normal routine. Both of them are not able to spend enough time with family. As a result their kid adopted some discipline and behavioural problems like not obey his grandmother, lack of concentration in his studies, almost all time engaging him in internet etc.  Respondent’s mother in law also annoyed due to not giving time to the kid. Relationship of respondent and mother in law also not good enough due to workplace stress and misunderstandings.  This is the impact of workplace in family life as per the respondent.

 iii) As per family members impact of workplace of family member.

As per respondent’s mother in law, at least mother should give time to her kid.  Mother in law has to look after the kid and kid does not obey her. Both the husband and wife busy in earning money and kid adopting some unwanted behavior. They could not give time to the family. Therefore, misunderstanding creates easily in their family and these misunderstandings worsening the relationship. Her daughter in law thought that her child’s behavior has been worsening due to grandmother only.

B. Findings from Male respondent:

i) Impact of exosystem  on microsystem and mesosystem.

In case of second respondent as he is working in Indian Army he has to stay outside from home for 9 months in a year. The leave also not granted in need of the respondent usually. The absence of respondent leads various complications in his family like his wife is over burdened by family work and his children especially elder boy going out of control of his mother. Thus the employment as exosystem affected the mesosystem as relationship of husband and wife and microsystem as the child.

ii) As per respondent Impact of workplace on family life

          As per statement of respondent the defiant and disobedient nature of the child of respondent is only for his absence in home. Wife of respondent also annoyed when he could not come to home in need due to crisis of leave.

 iii) As per family members impact of workplace o family member.

As per statement of respondent’s wife it is very tough to maintain alone the children and household work without supervision of father. Now the boy grown up and he are spending all time in internet or outdoor game. He is becoming reluctant to his studies and defiant in nature. He does not obey mother. In this situation presence of father is urgently needed in home. The respondent could not keep the family with him or could not come to home in time or for sufficient time. The absence creates arguments between both husband and wife and it increases the possibilities of worsening the relationship.

 5. Comparative Analysis/Discussion:

Exosystem involves links between a social setting in which the individual does not have an active role and the individual's immediate context.

Microsystem is the setting in which the individual lives. These contexts include the person's family, peers, school and neighbourhood. It is in the microsystem that the most direct interactions with social agents take place, for example, with parents, peers and teachers. The individual is not a passive recipient of experiences in these settings, but someone who helps to construct the settings.

Mesosytem refers to relations between microsystems or connection between the contexts. The mesosystem includes the relation of family experiences to school experiences, school experiences to religious experiences and family experiences to peer experiences.

On comparative analysis I found that every member of family has some certain duties and their presence and absence affected the kids and relationship of family members. Almost all are busy in the race of earning but not careful to their kids and family relationship. On questioning they answered that the earnings are also for the kids and other family members. Both the families are suffering from the crisis of time. Giving time to the relationship is unavoidable factor. Spending time with kid and relatives concrete the good relationship.  

 

6. Conclusions:

Parenting is the most fulfilling job that we will ever have, but it’s not without its challenges. Modern family life can be stressful and with various pressures on families it’s not always easy. Ultimately, parents want what is best for their child and a strong parent-child relationship can help lead to better outcomes for children.

One of the simplest things can do for relationship is to be proactive in managing the time spend on us, being a couple, and being a family. Many times life gets busy and a committed partner slips into becoming a roommate who is also exhausted.  Work, kids, social obligations; all these things will take every bit of time we have and more if we do not manage them. Folks who make love last learn how to set boundaries in their different roles, and give time to what is important to them. The respondents should think about it like this, they must make time for themself as an individual, as part of a couple, as their role in a family.  Dedicate too much time to one of those identities and the others become neglected, also problems can pop up in the role where they are over functioning.

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Counselling Case Work

             Counseling Case Work

 1. AIM: To Observe and understand a counseling case work

 2. OBJECTIVES:

a) To observe and learn about the counseling session of an adolescent.

b) To know the use of counseling methods

c) To know the emotional environment in the counseling session

d) To observe the critical point of counseling session.

 3. METHOD:

                A. MATERIAL REQUIRED: Laptop/Mobile, internet connection, paper and pen.

 B. PROCEDURE: Selected one counseling session from you tube and observed repeatedly two times . Focused to meet the aim and objective of this practicum activity and consulted with the practical supervisor.

 4. THE TYPE OF COUNSELLING METHOD USED:

In this session the counselor using the role plays technique of counseling. In a role-playing session, the therapist takes the identity of someone that the person is afraid to confront, such as a parent or employer. The person then interacts with the therapist, utilizing behaviors that he has learned during therapy.

 5. THE DETAILS OF THE CASE:

The details of the case found in the counseling session are as under:

          In this case Michael is a middle school Student from USA. Who was very cheerful before 10 days and his behavior was changed since last 10 days and history teacher informed the counselor to counsel him. Counselor talk with Michael and find out that her parents filed a divorce petition 15 days before and he want to stay with both the parents. He was very depressed and frustrated because he even could not talk to his father. Through the counseling technique counselor ruled out the exact cause of his behavioural changes and the coping strategy of his stress. Then gave some realistic option for the relations.

 6. THE EMOTIONAL ENVIRONMENT IN THE COUNSELLING SESSION:

          When counselor asked about love and his family he was got emotional. Asking about the mother’s thought and feeling makes him emotional. He doesn’t want to leave no one. If counselor does not create an emotional environment, then Michael would not tell the truth about what is going on actually.

 7. CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF THE SESSION:

In intake step of the counseling, Mr. Brent Bandhauer (Counselor) making good rapport with the Middle School Student Michael. Counselor greeted and asked Michael how he is doing. Michael told that he really doesn’t need this. Counselor said if Michael really hates him then he won’t keep him there. He told that counseling is cool and he should not worry about it and everything he is talking to counselor will be kept confidential. Thus he built rapport with Michael.

          In initial phase of counseling counselor told Michael that history teacher emailed to counselor saying that Michael was very happy, cheerful, interactive and excited about things but since last 10 days he was not like that same kid. Something happened to him and she was worried about it. At first Michael denied to accept the counseling and told that nothing wrong with him. Counselor told that why history teacher said like that, Michael replied that may be he had not completed homework. Then Counselor asked some emotional questions like to whom he loved more. He told that he loved his Mom and Dad very much. He has a college going elder sister also. Then asked about the home but he don’t want to share anything.

          In the middle phase of counseling the counselor again assured about confidentiality and then Michael told that 15 days ago his parents filed the divorce. Then he became emotional. He does not expect it really and he wants to stay with both mother and father. His father left them and mother told him about divorce. He did not saw dad since a while, therefore he worried so much. The counselor told the actual fact as good news that his dad will be always his dad; no matter what is going on. Nobody can change that. Michael cleared some questions from the counselor. When counselor asked about his mother’s new relationship, he became very emotional and replied that he doesn’t know. He was so frustrated that he cannot do anything. He was feeling helpless. Then counselor shows a flip side of helplessness i.e. his role in this relationship; that Michael did not do anything in making it happen. The relationship in between them is 100% their own. Therefore, Michael has no role to fix the relationship. But Michael doesn’t want to leave the both parents. Then Counselor given some options to remember something-

a) It is not the Michael’s fault.

b) He should not go through this.

c) His family is still his family although not living in the same house.

          Counselor wants to know the coping pattern of stress when go through this difficult situation. Michael told that he is coping by sleeping, playing in computer, go outside and ride bike. He was not in contact of Dad, that’s why he is more worried. Counselor asked that his mother also so upset with this. Then he became emotional enough. By telling about the custody case counselor shows the hope to Michael that he will not to suffer with the custody case problem. Counselor gave a tissue to Michael to wipe the tears.

           In termination Phase counselor proposed that Michael can stay one week with father and another week with mother. But Michael told that his mother cannot afford the expenses of school in California. He doesn’t want to go to different school. Then Counselor proposed that he can go in vacation to his father but Michael replied that his mother don’t want to see his father. He even could not talk to his dad in phone. Counselor cited some example to tell the reality of role playing. Michael feel better somewhat after that. He told Michael that it will take time to adjust with it, when he grown up then he can met his father and mother also understand it. Thus session was concluded by counselor with a smile.

Children are amazing at picking up words we use or that they have heard through teachers, friends and other adults. Pretend play helps to understand the power of language and how to use these words in various scenarios. It also encourages them to listen to what is being said. 

8. YOUR RECOMMENDATIONS:

A good counselor should listen his/her client carefully and to greet well with self-introduction. Rapport building with the client is also the duty of a good counselor. Then counselors to be identify the actual problem from the statement of the client. Identified problem should be confirmed by the client. Counselor should suggest the options to the client but not to be imposed. Counselor has to tell the facts straightly, so that client can understand easily. Counselor should assure to the client for privacy and confidentiality. A counselor should not interrupt the expression of client. He should not be a great advisor but to assist empathetically to solve the problem. Counselor should give the complete environment of privacy and confidentiality. Here in this case counselor may have to give some additional emotional support to the adolescent. Counselor suggested the options only. But as an adolescent he could not take proper decisions, hence counselor should suggest which option may be most beneficial for him. He should assist him to recover from the stress. These are my recommendation in this case. 

9. CONCLUSIONS:

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” Albert Einstein. Pretend play helps children naturally develop and use their cognitive abilities and skills. Through using their imagination regularly, they develop creativity and learn to think for themselves. In a society where we are so keen on school results, it’s even more important to create a space where children are free to express themselves and live in a magical realm of possibility. Empathy is developed though role play. Children learn to sympathize and understand certain emotional situations. When children pretend to be someone else, or use objects as something else, they are experimenting with different social situations as well as different emotions. They learn how to interact, cooperate and collaborate with each other in order to play. It’s a safe environment for them to express themselves and overcome anxieties or fears. In this case counselor applied the role play method in counseling to find out the exact cause of the Michael’s behavioral change and tried to sub-side the stress related to it.

Through this process of observation of a counseling session I am able to know the practical use of counseling method to the adolescent and find out the emotional environment and critical points in the counseling session. Thus, I completed the aim of the practical and achieved the objectives of the practical activity.

 

Understanding of Karma For Counselling

            Understanding of Karma For Counselling

In Hinduism Karma may be understand as follows: 

a) As per Hinduism the role of karma to understand of self:

     It is indicated by Pap and Punya of soul to get moksha. In Hinduism the karma is the path of moksha and to know who am I? . Through Karma only one can know himself/herself. It says that all souls are the part of super soul ( paramatma)

 b) The role of karma to understand attitude towards life in Hinduism: 

    Tulsidas, a Hindu saint, said: "Our destiny was shaped long before the body came into being." As long as the stock of sanchita karma lasts, a part of it continues to be taken out as prarabdha karma for being enjoyed in one lifetime, leading to the cycle of birth and death. A Jiva cannot attain moksha (liberation) from the cycle of birth and death, until the accumulated sanchita karmas are completely exhausted. Unkindness yields spoiled fruits, called pāpa, and good deeds bring forth sweet fruits, called punya. As one acts, so does one become: one becomes virtuous by virtuous action, and evil by evil action.

 c) The role of Karma to their socialization: 

     It has also been argued that Karma has a role in Hindu society as a whole. When one abides by their caste duty good Karma is earned and vice versa; and the Karma one collects is reflected in the next life as movement within the Caste system. The promise of upward mobility appealed to people, and was made plausible through Karma. This effectively "tamed" the lower castes into passive acceptance of the status quo. Thus, the Karma doctrine discouraged actual social mobility.

 d) The role of Karma to coping with Stress: 

    Stress is one way to create human bondage. If one considers this, one can perceive how stress cultivates worry, frustration, procrastination and other aspects of negative energy for many. In doing this, we are choosing to create karma which, when it returns, will continue this cycle of negativity. We have landed in bondage because we do not understand that what is happening to us is because of us. The law of karma states that we're responsible for our fate. We also have the choice of generating positive energy to emit and return to us. But if we choose to succumb to the stress and react with negativity, we become a slave to it. By understanding that the law of energy is attempting to balance itself, we can see that what I have perceived as stress is really an opportunity for growth to occur and positive energy to flow. Worry, passivity and frustration are choices that will not allow that balance to be achieved, and thus they continue the cycle of stress.

In Jainism Karma may be understand as follows :

a) As per Jainism the role of karma to understand of self: 

    Karma is to know the Jīva or Atman. The jiva, according to Jainism, is an essential part of how the process of karma, rebirth and the process of liberation from rebirth works.

 b) The role of karma to understand attitude towards life:  

        Karma is the mechanism that determines the quality of life. The happiness of a being's present life is the result of the moral quality of the actions of the being in its previous life. A soul can only achieve liberation by getting rid of all the karma attached to it. In Jainism ayu-karma (life-span-determining) determines the duration of a being's life (within the limits of the species into which the jiva is reborn)

c) The role of Karma to their socialization: 

        In Jainism gotra-karma (status-determining) determines the status of a being within its species. Gotra karma has a definite role in socialization of Jainism.

 d) The role of Karma to coping with Stress: 

        The karma sticks to the jiva because negative characteristics of the jiva, passions like anger, pride and greed, make the jiva sticky. Karma can be warded off by avoiding these negative characteristics. Thus karma helps to coping with stress by avoiding negative characteristics.

            According to believer of Hinduism Karma is the universal principle of cause and effect. Actions of people, both good and bad, come back to them in the future, helping them to learn from life's lessons and become better people. Karma is one of the natural laws of the mind, just as gravity is a law of matter. Just as God created gravity to bring order to the physical world, He created karma as a divine system of justice that is self-governing and infinitely fair. We create our own destiny through thought and action.  Karma is the totality of our actions and their reactions in this and previous lives, all of which determine our future. "Karma" literally means "action," and more broadly names the universal principle of cause and effect, action and reaction, which Hindus believe governs all consciousness.  Karma is not fate, for we act with what can be described as a conditioned free will creating our own destinies. Karma refers to the totality of our actions and their concomitant reactions in this and previous lives, all of which determine our future. The conquest of karma lies in intelligent action and dispassionate reaction. Not all karmas rebound immediately. Some accumulate and return unexpectedly in this or other lifetimes.

In Jainism doctrine of karma lies in providing a rational and satisfying explanation to the apparent unexplainable phenomenon of birth and death, of happiness and misery, of inequalities and of existence of different species of living beings. The theory of karma is able to explain day-to-day observable phenomena such as inequality between the rich and the poor, luck, differences in lifespan, and the ability to enjoy life despite being immoral. According to Jains, such inequalities and oddities that exist even from the time of birth can be attributed to the deeds of the past lives and thus provide evidence to existence of karmas. Karma is a physical substance that is everywhere in the universe. Karma particles are attracted to the soul by the actions of that soul. Karma particles are attracted when we do, think, or say things, when we kill something, when we lie, when we steal and so on. Karma not only encompasses the causality of transmigration, but is also conceived of as an extremely subtle matter, which infiltrates the soul—obscuring its natural, transparent and pure qualities. Karma is thought of as a kind of pollution that taints the soul with various colours. Based on its karma, a soul undergoes transmigration and reincarnates in various states of existence—like heavens or hells, or as humans or animals.

The process of action and reaction on all levels—physical, mental and spiritual—is karma. An architect thinks creative, productive thoughts while drawing plans for a new building. But were he to think destructive, unproductive thoughts, he would soon not be able to accomplish any kind of positive task even if he desired to do so. This is  karma, a natural law of the mind. We must also be very careful about our thoughts, because thought creates, and thoughts make karmas—good, bad and mixed.

            

Suicidal Tendencies and Counselling of a Soldier

     Suicidal Tendencies and Counselling of a Soldier

As more people commit suicide each year and die in all the world’s in combined conflict; Soldiers are also not different in this matter. The assistance of counseling professionals in the prevention of suicide on the world wide scale, is critically and clearly needed. Suicide results from a complex interaction of biological, genetic, psychological, sociological, cultural and environmental factors. Improved community detection, referral, and management of suicidal behaviour are important steps in suicide prevention. The critical challenge of such prevention is to identify people who are at risk and vulnerable; to understand the circumstances that influence their self destructive behaviour and to effectively structure interventions. The practice of professional counseling is defined as the application of mental health, psychological or human development principle through cognitive, affective, behavioural or systematic intervention strategies. By using these strategies professional counselor address, wellness, personal growth, Career development issues and mental health pathology. 

Through various researches we came to know  the primary reasons behind the suicidal ideation are family problem, job related problem, environmental/lifestyle problem, marital/relationship problem and health issues. In the health issues people suffering from mood disorder, bipolar affective disorder, major depressive disorder, HIV Positive and Alcohol Dependence Syndrome etc.  As inference of this researches we can say that the counselling works to prevent the suicidal ideation of soldiers.  

The life of a soldier is certainly not an easy one but it can be made better. There is no profession more sacrificing, prestigious, altruistic and respectable than that of a soldier, hence it is our duty to take care of our soldiers in every way possible. Though we are taking care of them, due to some unavoidable circumstances, we have to see their frequent incidence of suicides and fratricide.

        There are some limitations in the efficacy of the counseling to the person having suicidal ideation. Among them one is the chances of relapse. It may be relapsed the suicidal ideation if follow up of counseling session not done in time. If repeatedly counseling done and helped them to understand and overcome the problems which may induce the suicidal ideation then we can save the soldiers from the untoward events.   

As suggestion or recommendation we can say that the soldiers may be saved from suicidal ideation if we study about the effective counselling therapy to solve their family problem as well as relationship problems. Because job related stress and health issues can be managed by their employer. But family problem and relationship problem is major issues behind the suicidal ideation of a soldier. So, it is recommended for deep study about uses of counseling and family therapy to prevent the suicidal and fratricidal incidents.  

A study on Analyzing Different Forms of Families

 Analyzing Different Forms of Families

 1. AIM: To understand different types of family forms existing in the society.

 2. OBJECTIVES:

After undertaking this Practicum activity, we will be able to:

 Understand the different types of family existing in the society;

 Get in depth understanding of the selected family types;

 Differentiate between the needs of various members along with their roles and relationships; and

 Appreciate the importance of having knowledge of family structures and their varied characteristics for practicing family therapy.

 3. METHOD:

(a) Materials Required: Interview schedule, pen, paper, tape recorder.

(b) Procedure:

Selected Family for Group -1

I have selected a migrated nuclear family for Group I, from our society in Guwahati city. The respondent was a house wife living in a flat along with her husband and two daughters. I contacted her over phone as we are living in the same building of our society and fixed up a convenient time for the interview telephonically. The lady, Mrs. Baruah gave me the Sunday afternoon time i.e.  (as she is free having completed the household works). I called her at the decided time.  At first I made her comfortable by taking about spreading of dangerous COVID-19, then about children and about lockdown depression. Then I told her about the importance and use of my course and practical in present scenario of society. I convinced her on the confidentiality of information. It established a good rapport with her. Then we were starting the formal interview. I got important information during the interview and I was noted it down in my diary.

 c) Findings: (Tool) : Following is the interview schedule that was used for this practicum activity.

 Background information:

 Name of the respondent : Mrs. Baruah

 Age: 39 years

 Sex: F (female)

 Family Income: Rs. 60,000/- (per month)

 Type of Family: Urban Nuclear Family ( Migrated from a village)

 Number of family members: Four (including Mrs. Baruah)

 Their age and relationship to the respondent :

            Mr. Baruah – 46 years old – husband of the respondent

            Smt. M. Baruah – 15 years old – Daughter of respondent

            Smt. S. Baruh – 08 Years old – Daughter of respondent.

 Specific Information

1) With reference to each family member, and yourself, list at least two personal-emotional a nd physical-material needs.

-- Mrs. Baruah’s response : My parents in law staying in their own home in village which is about 100 kms away from Guwahati City. They want to keep us along with them. When we approached them to come with us they always denied by saying that they don’t like the lifestyle of Cities.

My father in law is a pensioner. Yet they want money from us to fulfill their desires. They does not want to understand that how costlier the living in a metro city. My husband’s income is not so much that we can afford needs of two families.

My daughters have their friends from high status society they expect to manage their need according to their status. They want me with them to involve in every activity. It is very difficult to manage time for them after doing all household works.

In spite all these husband always forced me to go to home at village frequently and support them emotionally and financially. I am always in contact with them over phone but according to my husband this is not enough.

 2) With reference to each family member, identify two roles they are playing and their corresponding responsibilities. State the same for yourself too.

-- Mrs. Baruah’s response : As  I am a house wife I have to do all the household work. Truly speaking we could not afford a maid for help. Apart from this I teach my daughters, help them to complete home work given by school. I have to manage my home.

            My husband is only earner. He has a shop in Guwahati. His responsibility is to provide all our necessities. He has to look after his home at village also. He helped in the expenses of my parents in law as they are ill as in old age. His only brother is not an earning member.

            My elder daughter wants to help me in my daily works but I am not allowed her to do that. She has her own works of study. Little daughter is not old enough to understand her role and responsibilities.         

 3) Decision Making

a) Who takes decisions in the family with regard to: (Mention the reason)

 Socio-religious aspects: All socio religious decision in our home taken by me. When my parent in laws comes to our home at Guwahati, I am taking all such decision with consultation to my mother in law. My parents in law and my husband have no hard and fast rule in this concern. But mother in law wants sometimes to impose some obsolete custom and rituals on me. I never oppose or argue on this.  Financial aspects: We both husband and wife takes all financial decision together. My husband expends lots of money unnecessarily. From this meager amount of money we have to maintain all expenditure in this costlier city. As you know living cost in this city is very high. School fees of kids increasing day by day.

 Domestic/Household related aspects: All most all the domestic/ household decision taken by me. When I feel that any matter is to be discussed with my husband or parents in law then only I asked them . No one has any objection on my decision till date.

 Education/Career related aspects: Education or career related decision for my children are taken by me only. My husband not took interest in this matter. He fulfills anyhow our needs for this.

 b) What is your role in decision making and which decisions do you take?

What do you keep in mind while taking decisions? Why are you not involved in the decision making for other things?

-          Almost in all decision making I am involved in my family. Domestic and career related decisions are taken by me individually. While taking decisions I keep in my mind the progress of family and no one can blame me for the decision. Except domestic and career decision, in other decision I am not involved solely, I always used to take decision after consultation with husband and parents in law.

4) a) Describe a situation where you or any other family member(s) have been able to communicate effectively within the family. Identify the reasons for the same.

- My husband was heavy drinker in the influence of some friends. After my good communications he changed his behavior and gradually quit the habit of alcohol addiction. Now he is struggling to quit the habit of smoking also. He keeps faith on me only for my good communication and my parents in law also influenced by my success on stopping the alcohol addiction of him.

 b) Describe a situation where communication in the family failed or was not effective. Identify the reasons for the same.

- My brother in law is jobless. He is almost 35 years old unmarried man. He is enjoying till date with my father in law’s pension. He is failure everywhere due to his attitude and way of thinking. His friends are also unproductive in nature. I had tried to settle him many times. But my all communication in this concern is failed always. Probably he thought he has enough time in future to do something and now I am communicating or teach him to save my money only; what we are giving monthly to parents in law.

 5) a) List down the names of family members in descending order (highest to lowest) with respect to their age. Rank the members in terms of power in decision making and providing emotional support.

S.No.	Relationship and Age	Power in Decision Making	Emotional Support
1.	Husband (46 years)	3	5
2.	Mrs. Baruah (39 years)	5	4
3.	Elder daughter (15 years)	1	2
4	Younger daughter (08 years)	1	1

 

6) Describe any crisis/disagreements among family members and discuss the strategies used to resolve the same.

- When we were shifted from my husband’s native village to Guwahati, all family members except my husband disagreed with it. I was convinced my father in law citing the cause of better education of children and addiction of my husband due to friends. Otherwise we will lose my husband and their son. This emotional communication worked. After all father in law agreed with me and convinced others for this shifting.

 7) Describe a situation where you experienced emotional warmth / support from your family [or any particular member(s)] or instances where you provided the same to others.

- My husband was suffering from liver cirrhosis five years back. In that situation brother in law helped a lot in hospital. Without his help it was not possible to get back my husband. My mother in law also supported at that time staying at our home and looking after my kids. In that situation I experienced very emotional.

 ANALYSIS & DISCUSSION

-Through this interview I am able to know that some families may be nuclear but they have to attach as joint family. All role and responsibilities are like joint family but they are living as nuclear family. In all relationships of the respondent’s family all members were helping each other in crisis or need. They were living as two family but relationships matters for them. Respondent knows how to manage the family relationship.

 CONCLUSIONS:

In this entire interview I found Mrs. Baruah very confident on her decisions. Although her parents in law living as separate family, she is managing the family very well. She told clearly everything what I want to know. I had seen one problem with her that she expects of doing as she decided from all the family members. If her expectation not fulfill she hurts. Her communication skill is very good and conflict resolution techniques are effective. She keeps faith on religious beliefs and followed the rituals. She is hard worker and always progressive. The interview was too good and I have learned that members of nuclear family has to perform role and responsibilities as joint family and without support of each other relationship could not be maintained from one side. Due to decisive power of respondent all members of family respect her.

 REFLECTIONS:

I selected a nuclear family for the group 1 of practical activity but I found the system of joint family living separately within the family. Due to lockdown for pandemic COVID 19 we had done the interview telephonically. Although emotion cannot be observed over phone yet I got the necessary information to complete the objectives of the practical. At first she was not interested to share information but when I appreciated her works of husband’s de addiction she clearly told everything what I need for this practical activity. If anybody valued the work done then they can build a good rapport. The interview was completed in two sessions of almost 45 minutes each.

  Selected Family for Group -2

I had selected a woman headed single parent nuclear family for group 2, from an outskirt area in city Guwahati. The respondent was a mother of two adult children living in their own house. The lady Mrs. Hazarika, is an army widow, working in a gas agency as clerk and we know each other by the transaction of LPG cylinder and connections. I contacted her and told about my practical. I assured her about the confidentiality of data and name of the respondent also to change in practical report. She convinced and given time of Sunday evening for telephonic conversation/interview. To make strong our rapport I shared some data similar to her life and family. Then she opened to me to share what I need for this practical activity. I had noted down point wise all information in my diary what she told me as her story.

 c) Findings:

Background information:

 Name of the respondent : Mrs. Hazarika

 Age: 48 years

 Sex: F (female)

 Family Income: Rs. 28,000/- (per month)

 Type of Family: woman headed single parent nuclear family

 Number of family members: Three (including Mrs. Hazarika)

 Their age and relationship to the respondent :

            Shri Kaushik Hazarika – 28 years old – Son of respondent

            Smt. Jeuti Hazarika – 25 Years old – Daughter of respondent.

 Specific Information

1) With reference to each family member, and yourself, list at least two personal-emotional and physical-material needs.

(Noted down from Kaveri’s response verbatim)

My husband was expired due to illness in young age. After him my children miss him a lot. I have to fulfill their all personal-emotional needs. Whenever they became emotional I have to support them anyhow. In my emotional need I never found any relatives. I have to adjust myself. My son not obeys me. It is very tough to teach him. He is not working in 28 years also. He needs a job. But he is not trying at all.

I am managing entire expenses of my home through my little salary and my husband’s pension. It is not enough to meet the requirement. I am suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure. My treatment cost, cost of my son’s luxury, need of my daughter’s marriage expense gives tension to me. I don’t know how I will manage all these. Any how children completed their intermediate. They could not complete their graduation.

2) With reference to each family member, identify two roles they are playing and their corresponding responsibilities. State the same for yourself too.

I am playing all role and responsibilities of both parents. I have to do household works and office works both. My daughter started to work in a private firm as receptionist. She helps me if she has time, but she is busy with her works. My son has doing nothing as role and responsibilities to our family. He is staying as guest in his own home. After expiry of my husband no relative from my husband side kept touch with us. From my side all relatives are busy with their life.

 3) Decision Making

a) Who takes decisions in the family with regard to: (Mention the reason)

 Socio-religious aspects: All socio religious decision in our home taken by me and my daughter. My son has no any comment on socio-religious activity of our family

 Financial aspects: We both mother and daughter takes all financial decision together. Son only want to spend luxuriously. Because he thinks that I have lots of money and he can spend lavishly.

 Domestic/Household related aspects: All most all the domestic/ household decision taken by me. When I feel that any matter is to be discussed with my children I tell them only. With many objection also my decision are always final the family. Because they are immature to take any domestic or household decisions

 Education/Career related aspects: Education or career related decision for my children are taken by themselves. I fulfill anyhow their needs for their education or career.  Because they are like to live in their own style or pattern.

b) What is your role in decision making and which decisions do you take?

What do you keep in mind while taking decisions? Why are you not involved in the decision making for other things?

Decision making power is always with me in my family except their career and education. I am not involved with their education and career related decision because I had destroyed lots of money what I got from govt. after death of my husband. I sent my children to costlier and good school/college but they made some other habits and could not progress after intermediate. My husband and my dream was not fulfill at all. Therefore I am not involving with such decisions. When I take any decision I always keep in mind that my decision should not wrong and it is always beneficial for my family.

4) a) Describe a situation where you or any other family member(s) have been able to communicate effectively within the family. Identify the reasons for the same.

My communication was effective when my daughter was in love with a boy who has no job. I was able to make understand my daughter not to marry with him. My communication was effective because she is emotional and she always involved with my all activities. I told her as a friend about that boy and his family.

 b) Describe a situation where communication in the family failed or was not effective. Identify the reasons for the same.

Communications with my son is always failed. He drinks a lot and spending lots of money in unnecessary luxury. Whenever I want to speak with him he became aggressive. I think these are his friend’s influence. He thinks that I have lots of money and property and he has to spend. Actually since childhood I kept him very strict family environment and when he went to hostel for study he felt free to do everything. Therefore my communication is not effective with him.

 5) a) List down the names of family members in descending order (highest to lowest) with respect to their age. Rank the members in terms of power in decision making and providing emotional support.

S.No.	Relationship and Age	Power in Decision Making	Emotional Support
1.	Mrs. Hazarika (48 years)	5	5
2.	Elder Son ( 28 years)	1	1
3.	Younger daughter ( 25 years)	1	3

 6) Describe any crisis/disagreements among family members and discuss the strategies used to resolve the same.

 My husband was died when my kids were little. I sent my son to Bangalore to study in class 11^th and he become addicted with ganja and alcohol. He waste lots of money there and after too much hard work I brought him returned to Guwahati. At that time when I was busy with him my daughter also fall in love with a bad boy. My family was almost going to broken down. I was handled with patients and care. First I communicate with my daughter and my daughter somehow able to handle her elder brother. My son not obey me, hence I was applied the strategies to engage his sister emotionally in that crisis situation of family.

 7) Describe a situation where you experienced emotional warmth / support from your family [or any particular member(s)] or instances where you provided the same to others.

When I was almost going to depression after seeing my son in such a addicted situation and he got bike accident my daughter support me emotionally and she managed my calling her uncle and relatives. Emotionally she was supported me and due to her positive thoughts I was able to recover from that grief.

 ANALYSIS & DISCUSSION

In this woman headed, single parent, nuclear family Mrs. Hazarika perform her role as both parents but she was done some mistakes unknowingly or under influence of situations. She kept her son in a strict family environment and suddenly gave him all freedom in a metropolitan city. Due to emotional condition she never taught him the value of money. She thought that if they feel crisis of money in childhood then they would miss their father a lot. Therefore, he wants to spend luxuriously. She managed her family but not satisfied by herself.

 CONCLUSIONS:

During interview with Mrs. Hazarika I got the information what I need for this practicum. Mrs. Hazarika was depressed a lot for her son, but her daughter helped to overcome from the sorrows. After losing her husband she tried her level best to make children as good and established human being but she is not satisfied with her family grown up. She works hard in office and home both to manage her family but not able to get the results as she wish. In this whole process of practical, I am able to understand the woman headed, single parent family existing in the society and able to differentiate between the needs of various members along with their roles and relationships. It is very important for family therapist to know the different family structures and their varied characteristics for practicing family therapy.

 REFLECTIONS:

At first she was not agree to share the information of her family. When she understands that this discussion may be beneficial to her son also, she agreed to share the information what I need. In this interview honestly speaking for a little time I was judgmental on respondent. But after some time I understand the situation of women like her who lost husband in young age and have to manage everything by her alone.  The whole interview process was beneficial to me to understand this type of family and its need, role, responsibilities of each family member. The whole process took more than one hour. I noted down the information given by her. I thanked her and leave her over phone.

 COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION:

 As comparative analysis and discussion on Group-1 and Group 2 family we have to compare the similarities and differences between the two families reference to:

a) Family composition (Structure and number of members)

Similarities: Both families are living in urban areas as nuclear family with 3 and four members only.

Both families are not belonging to higher class. Almost both families were women headed. In both families two children are present.

Differences: In group I family husband is present to support but in group 2, husband was died. In both families two children are present but in group 2 children are adult and enough matured to help their mother.

 b) The roles and responsibilities of different members of the family.

Similarities: In both families respondent is decision maker and both were women. The role and responsibilities are well defined in both families.

 Differences: The son in group 2 family not performing any role and responsibilities. In absence of husband in group2 family the respondent has to perform all role and responsibilities of father and mother to the children.

 c) Gendered division of labour in the family (is the work distributed depending on the person’s gender?)

Similarities: Well divided the labour as their gender in both family but in group 2 son of the respondent is functionless in family.

Differences: In group 1 the respondent has to do the household work and has to manage the family but not to take pain for income money, but in group 2 labour as both genders to be done by respondent.

  d)Resources available to the family (material and socio-emotional resources)

Similarities: Daughters are the similarities as socio-emotional resources for both respondents. The material resources also well managed by their service and business in both families.

 Differences: Material resources are lees and limited in group 2 family than group 1 family.

 e) Different strategies used for communication, resolving disagreements and overcoming crisis and their effectiveness with reference to the context.

 Similarities: Both the respondent handled the crisis situation of family anyhow with their own way of communications.

 Differences: Respondent from group 1 family is keeping touch as joint family with her parents in laws by her good communication and de-addicted her husband by her effective communication but group 2 respondent is failed to do so with her son and relatives. Although she is suffering from grief of losing her husband she overcome all sorrow and able to manage her family. However conflict resolution techniques were different in both the families.

 CONCLUSIONS BASED ON COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS:

 Nuclear family consists of parents and their children and the joint family is defined as a group of people who generally live under one roof, eat food cooked at one hearth, hold property in common, participate in common family worship and related to each other as other particular type of kindred. Group 1 family is a nuclear family but I found all role and responsibilities as joint family through the interview.

As single parent families are mainly headed by women, they are also referred to as women headed households. It is important to understand the difference between the two terms, that is, single parent families and woman headed households. Single parent families imply the absence of either parent due to the various reasons, but a woman headed household on the other hand generally refers to those families where women are heads of the families by virtue of their main earner status. The woman's role as the economic provider regardless of the presence or absence of the male at home is central to the definition of a woman headed household. In group 2 family I found that the family was single parent women headed nuclear family in true sense.

 A family's attitude towards a person has an important influence on his or her self identity and self-worth. A person's behaviour may at times be in response to the ascribed characteristics by the family and the family dynamics. Each role demands certain responsibilities and regardless of cultural background, the pressure of assuming multiple roles is often challenging. As no two families are alike, none of the individuals too are the same. Even in the same family they may have different perspectives of the same thing. Yet, each family member's perspective is valid in its own right. Thus, I found both respondent in group 1 and group 2 had different attitude and communication skill. They had different conflict resolution skills also.

Among the diversity of families the basic needs like socio-emotional and material needs are same. Some of them want more and some want less. Thus we can conclude this practicum activity by successfully meeting the objectives of the practical.

 REFLECTIONS:

     After scheduling the time of interview over mobile phone, I approached both to record our conversations but both were denied and even the told not to disclose the actual name because it is a family matter. I was politely agreed. I felt that respondent 1 was soft spoken and she had the capabilities to handle all situation softly but respondent 2 was little rude in behavior. I think her situation made her behavior little rude and more emotional. During the interview of group 2 respondent I felt her mourning and anger. I had changed the topic at that time. The thought process and communication pattern are different in both respondent, but both were right in their own way. After going through this practical activity I understand the different types of family existing in the society and understand them in different angle of need, roles, relationships, attitude, communications and behaviors etc. To practice the family therapy it is very important to know about the different types , structure and characteristics of families.  Although due to COVD-19 pandemic situation I have to take interview over phone I was able to successfully collect the information what is need for the completion of this practical. But I think face to face interview is more effective for a family therapist.

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