A Family Therapist’s Reaction to “the Influences of the Family of Origin on Career Development: A Review and Analysis”

Abstract

This reaction to Whiston and Keller is that of a family therapist with great respect for the amount of work the article represents. Two theories of family therapy, structural and Bowenian, are discussed with particular attention to the contributions each can make in understanding the influences of families on career choices. The functional and dysfunctional family processes and dynamics of each theory are considered. Examples of how either family structure might influence career choices are included. The need for cooperative research between family therapists and counselors is stressed.