Family Matters Course
This family wellness education course is grounded in family systems and attachment theories. The course was originally developed for use in prisons. The course focuses on family as a system with unique history, culture, roles, rules, strengths, and challenges.
The course teaches participants how to manage conflict, act rather than react when provoked, resolve old hurts and wounds, and through forgiveness bring positive peace into their relationships, particularly relationships with their children. During the course, participants are asked to focus on improving one or two family relationships using experiential exercises, role plays, letter writing, and telephone calls.
Research finds that course participants report a better understanding of themselves and their families at the end of the course, as well as increases in self-competence and self-esteem. Many report improvement in important relationships, particularly relationships with children. Family healing work affects multiple relationships and increases the possibility of healthy and productive life choices for all family members.
This course was created over a 5-year period. It is not copyrighted. Feel free to select or adapt any part to fit your own needs. Please provide the following credit in your material: "Adapted from L. Bell, C. Cornwell, L. Curran and S. Gaston, Family Matters (Family Wellness Education) available at familymatterscourse.com."