Family Therapy with Single-Mother Households with Pediatric Cancer Following Bowen’s Intergenerational Theory

Single-mother households with pediatric cancer are a unique population that can face problems such as poverty, medical bills, social isolation, overwhelming stress, psychological or mental disorders or distress, and maladaptive family dynamics. Single mothers, in this way, have to navigate not only being both parental figures, but provide care, income, and support all on their own. The Intergenerational model aims to examine one’s family of origin and the dynamics or patterns that exist to interpret the current issue or problems that the client or client family is facing. Family therapy with a single- mother household with pediatric cancer following the Bowenian Intergenerational model is underrepresented in the literature. With single mothers’ unique challenges and those that come with pediatric cancer, the use of concepts central to the Intergenerational theory may help illuminate and resolve issues or problematic dynamics within this family. This curriculum was created to accommodate the specific challenges that single mothers face while caring for a child with cancer and follow the Intergenerational framework and terminology.