6 Secrets to a Stronger Family
Six Secrets to A Healthier Family.
(Following article provided by Certified Building Family Strengths Trainer: Clifton Fuller, LMFT, LPC, LCSW. Mr. Fuller was the therapist selected from Texas, in addition to one therapist from each state in the U.S, to receive training and certification to disseminate information from the U.S. Department of Health & University of Nebraska’s long-term research. The 10 year project studied patterns & characteristics of strong families.)
Dr. Nick Stinett (Oklahoma State University and University of Nebraska-Lincoln) interviewed families felt to be the strongest in their communities. Dr. Stinett focused on patterns in families to determine what makes families strong, rather than focusing on what's 'wrong' with families in society.
Through this long-term research, six secrets of strong families emerged.
Secret #1: Commitment!
Commitment to family is a promise of time, interest and energy.
The family, as a whole, is committed to seeing each member reach his/her potential. It does NOT include an individual or individuals suffering so others in the family can thrive while another doesn’t.Secret #2: Wellness!
Wellness is the belief in positive human interaction.
This belief helps family members trust others and learn to give and receive love. It is not the absence of problems. Strong families have their share of troubles, but their trust and love enable them to meet problems effectively.Secret #3: Communication!
Effective communication in strong families involves clear, direct channels between speaker and listener.
Families develop complicated ways of communication and members may be unaware just exactly what they are 'saying' by a certain word, phrase or action. Individuals use a combination of verbal and non-verbal actions to get messages to others. Strong families have learned to communicate directly and to use consistent verbal and non-verbal behaviors.Secret #4: Appreciation!
Showing appreciation involves being able to recognize beautiful, positive aspects of others and to let them know you value these qualities. It also means being able to receive compliments yourself.Secret #5: Time Together!
Spending time together as a family may be the most rewarding experience for humans. Two important features of time together are quality and quantity. Strong families spend meaningful time with each other and spend time together a lot. This gives a family an identify unobtainable in any other way.Secret #6: Ability to Address Stress, Conflict & Crisis!
Previous strengths create an 'inner core of power' for families.
This core serves as a resource for those times when conflict and crisis come. By having that ‘inner core’, it will help reduce stress and even prevent potential conflicts and crisis from ever arising.
Strong families are able to survive, and even grow stronger, in the face of hard times.
Contact our offices if you'd like to receive counseling on ways to build a stronger family by calling 210-970-1511 or visit www.CliftonFullerCounseling.com.
