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Home > Fundamental Concepts > Understanding Children/Redirecting Misbehavior/Fostering Contributions > Family Council/Family Meeting

Family Council/Family Meeting

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NOTE: Page numbers enclosed in parentheses are citations from The Individual  Psychology of Alfred Adler: A systematic presentation in selections from his writings. (H. L. and R. R. Ansbacher, Eds.).© 1964. Harper & Row, Publishers,  Inc. Used by permission of Perseus Books Group.

These terms are used interchangeably. The idea of the family council was developed by Dreikurs (1974) as a vehicle for promoting democratic leadership, family harmony, individual responsibility, and mutually respectful engagement in problem-solving. Briefly, families (including all members of a household who choose to attend) meet at an agreed-upon fixed time and place each week to (a) plan family activities; (b) discuss and decide upon the assignment of household tasks; (c) discuss difficulties, suggest solutions to problems, and agree on logical consequences. ALL family members may put items on the agenda for the meeting. Responsibilities for chairing the family meeting, and for recording minutes of decisions reached, rotate among members. Decisions are unanimous. If no decision is reached on a matter, the family thereby signifies that it is willing to leave that situation as it is for the present; the matter may be put on the agenda for further discussion at the following week's meeting. Decisions may remain in effect for as little as one week only, or until whatever time they are reviewed, evaluated for their effectiveness, and reworked as needed. The purpose of the family meeting is not the construction of a perfect or permanent order; rather it is a means for fostering the solidarity of the family in the management of its life, as it is being lived, week by week.

See Dreikurs, R., Gould, S., & Corsini, R. J. (1974); McKay, G.D. & Maybell, S. A. (2004).

 

© Griffith, J., & Powers, R. L. (2007).  The Lexicon of Adlerian Psychology:  106 terms Associated with the Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler (2nd ed.). Port Townsend, WA: Adlerian Psychology Associates (p. 38).

Definitions of concepts are used by permission of Jane Griffith. A comprehensive list of concepts and definitions can be found in The Lexicon of Adlerian Psychology: 106 Terms Associated with the Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler by Jane Griffith and Robert L. Powers, available for purchase on Amazon.com. 

References

Dreikurs, R. (1974). Child guidance and education: Collected papers. Chicago: Alfred Adler Institute.

Dreikurs, R., Gould, S., & Corsini, R. J. (1974). Family council: The Dreikurs technique for putting an end to war between parents and children (and between children and children). Chicago: Henry Regnery.

McKay, G. D., & Maybell, S. A. (2004). Calming the family storm: Anger management for moms, dads, and all the kids. Atascadero, CA: Impact.


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Resources

Family Counseling & Parent Training with James Robert Bitter, EdD
Dr. James Robert Bitter summarizes the foundational underpinnings of working with families and children and how they are reinforced in parent training.

Adler was the earliest family system’s theorist and offered common sense approaches in working with families and empowering parents to build stronger relationships with their children. Dr. Rudolf Dreikurs, a colleague of Adler, expanded on this work and popularized it in publications and in training. Dr. Bitter summarizes the foundational underpinnings of working with families and children and how they are reinforced in parent training.

 


Added By: Admin
Areas of Focus: James R. Bitter, Parenting/Parent Training, Family Council/Family Meeting
Resource Type: Video
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How to Get Kids to Behave at the Restaurant Using Positive Discipline
Video demonstrating the "Asking" Parent in a family meeting (Asking vs. Telling)


Added By: Admin
Areas of Focus: Family Council/Family Meeting, Positive Discipline for Parents
Resource Type: Video
Direct Link to this Resource

No More Civil Wars! Family Council Meetings Twelve Year Follow-Up with the Kornrich Family
This video contains a 12-year follow-up with the Kornrich family, who originally met with Rob Guttenberg in 1978 to initiate Adlerian Family Council meetings

 In October, of 1980, an article appeared in the Washington Post newspaper that detailed how, in Rob Guttenberg’s work as a family counselor, he was able to teach parents how to set up weekly family meetings, based on the principles of Alfred Adler and Rudolf Dreikurs. These Viennese psychiatrists emphasized how parents could raise their children to have a respectful voice in family decision-making, where the children could come to realize that they were needed, and that they had contributions to make to their family and to their community.

Not long after the appearance of the article in the Post, a producer from the Christian Broadcasting Network’s (CBN) 700 Club approached Rob Guttenberg about visiting the Family Education Center in Takoma Park, Maryland in order to interview Rob and families with whom he worked. The CBN documentary video, "No More Civil Wars," was produced based on these interviews and shown on the 700 Club with Pat Robertson introducing the subject.

Twelve years later, Rob Guttenberg approached the Kornrich family about creating a video follow-up video. At the time of follow-up, the Kornrich’s daughter, Tasnima was 19 years-old and in her first year at the University of Tennessee, and their son, Sabino was a 12 year-old.

With permission from the family and the producer of the Christian broadcasting Network’s 700 Club, Rob interviewed the family about the impact that holding Adlerian Family Council meetings had on their family life.

This video includes the 12-year follow-up that Rob produced about the Kornrich’s experience.


Added By: Admin
Areas of Focus: Family Council/Family Meeting, Rob Guttenberg
Resource Type: Video
No More Civil Wars! Family Council Meetings Twelve Year Follow-Up with the Kornrich Family
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Video of Dr. Rudolf Dreikurs conducting a Family Counseling demonstration on June 29, 1960
Video of Dr. Rudolf Dreikurs conducting a Family Counseling demonstration. This presentation was delivered and televised on June 29, 1960, as part of a summer workshop in the school of Education at Oregon State College.

Video of Dr. Rudolf Dreikurs conducting a Family Counseling demonstration. This presentation was delivered and televised on June 29, 1960, as part of a summer workshop in the school of Education at Oregon State College.

Dr. Rudolf Dreikurs counsels parents who describe several challenges with their four children not listening and following directions, especialy at mealtimes. One of the children is also having difficulty with bedwetting, and their infant continues to suck her thumb. Dr. Dreikurs describes the importance of choice, withdrawing from conflicts, and assigning responsibility. A discussion regarding attention seeking is also facilitated.

Half way through the session, Dr. Dreikurs invites the four children into the session and has the parents leave the room. The children describe the family problems they perceive, including mealtimes, fighting, and getting dressed in the morning. Dr. Dreikurs makes guesses about the goals of the children’s' misbehavior.

Finally, Dr. Dreikurs invites the parents back into the room to discuss his observations.


Added By: Admin
Areas of Focus: Family Council/Family Meeting, Understanding Children/Redirecting Misbehavior/Fostering Contributions, Rudolf Dreikurs
Resource Type: Video
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