“I just want to stop having so much anger inside and just stop being mean to other people,” declares John at the beginning of the session. Unlike many children who get dragged to therapy against their will by their parents, John stepped up to the plate to ask his mother if he could talk to a counselor about his anger. In this heart-warming session, McLendon gently helps John accept the sadness underneath his anger, as she uncovers a series of significant losses John has had to face so early in his young life. With deep care and reverence, McLendon helps both John and his mother to embrace the vulnerable parts of themselves with tenderness and love.

Viewers will have the opportunity to watch McLendon skillfully demonstrate key aspects of the Satir approach, such as creating safety, making contact, and validating feelings and desires. She also shows how the family mapping technique can be used as a visual tool to help deepen the work. An added bonus is an engaging discussion after the session that sheds further light on the Satir approach to family therapy.