Of Rocks and Flowers: Dealing with the Abuse of Children

Family therapy can be challenging to navigate for a host of clinical reasons, and therapists can quickly find themselves feeling ungrounded and at a loss for effective interventions—especially when child abuse is present. Watch renowned therapist Virginia Satir conduct an innovative, forward-moving session with a distraught family of four, and you’ll understand why this 20th-century psychotherapist is considered one of the pioneers of family therapy.

Bob and Betty are married and expecting a baby, in addition to raising Aaron and Robbie, Bob’s two young sons from a previous marriage. Betty, seeing the abuse Aaron and Robbie have recently endured (and are beginning to perpetrate themselves), fears for her unborn child and questions Bob’s commitment to preventing further abuse. The family comes to Satir on the brink of breakup, wanting to stay connected but unclear about how to do so.

Through a creative combination of gentle, hands-on interventions and directive, facilitated discussion, Satir establishes a safe yet firm environment that supports the family’s motivation to change, while also addressing the issues of trust, choice, and resistance that can arise during the therapeutic process. You’ll witness her skill at assessment, generating a warm, authentic rapport while getting the details of the boys’ abuse. You’ll be amazed by the depth of her guided breakout session with the adults, as she affirms their desire for stability while helping cement each others' “bottom line” as a foundation for building trust. Again and again, you’ll be moved by the presence, patience, and interactive use of healing touch Satir exhibits throughout this session as well as the entire Virginia Satir Series.

This video is a must for therapists looking to learn more about family systems, child abuse assessment, creative interventions, goal-oriented facilitation, and the empathic, nurturing stance that allows for safety and transformation.