The Hillcrest family : assessment interview 2

Duration: Series:Studies in human communication. assessment series

Year Published: 1968

Creator: Pennsylvania Psychological Cinema Register University Park Pa. 1968

Description: The purpose of this program is to present an assessment interview between Dr. Carl Whitaker and the members of the Hillcrest family in a family counseling series. This is the first time the family has met Dr. Whitaker and he is unaware of their reasons for seeking counseling services. In this presentation the family arrives for the assessment interview with Dr. Whitaker, and the father, Norman, introduces the members of the family. Dr. Whitaker informs them that while he doesn't know what they expect to get from this interview, he intends to get to know them on purpose. Norman is then led into a discussion of problems and problem solving in which he indicates that he has considered suicide as one way out. Sonia is noted to be acting as the "little mother" and the competition between she and Carol for the role of mother is explored. Dr. Whitaker asks Carol and Norman which of the children are unwanted, which provokes a discussion that each child may feel unwanted when there are problems in the home. In the discussion which follows there is an indication of hostility between Bruce and Sonia. Norman and Carol discuss their feelings about hugging and kissing the children and each other, andhow they resolve their problems