ABSTRACT
The changing family dynamics and changing work environments in the United States have made it evident that counselors need to address a significant family–work relationship. There are many configurations of households in this country, each of which is defined as a family. The systems perspective of the family emphasizes circular causality—that is, individual members have an effect on the family, and as they change, the family changes. Changes from larger systems have an effect on the family and thus change individuals in that family. Work influences the different configurations of families in different ways, and counselors need to keep those influences in mind when they work on family issues. In addition, poverty, violence, and unemployment can affect any family configuration, and each of these issues cuts across all family configurations. Life planning for couples and families is a developing area for counselors, and although no comprehensive theories are available at this time, work is being done to fill the void.
