The strength of these two models lays in being able to identify

The strength of these two models lays in being able to identify the stressors and allowing family clinicians to intervene to support the families. Families adapt to different management of coping strategies whilst dealing with stressful events (Friedman, Bowden & Jones, 2003). Family specialists use the stress theory to facilitate a more collaborative learning for the family members with the focus being on the various processes. It allows a broad spectrum of dealing with stressful issues and then coming up with a more family specific solution.Family Stress Theory is not looking at the crisis-to-resource relationship. For instance, a family turns to their church’s support as a response to a crisis situation. Historically, the family seldom went to church and did not attend service outside. They choose to turn to their church during the time of need of the family, although this may not be a suitable resource for the family unit. Church support may have been felt by the family, but not necessarily the support they wanted. The focus on the pre-crisis stage is a second weakness Family Stress Theory. The pre-crisis stage is important, as the hope would be that the foundation for education and adaptation of coping mechanisms would be laid during this period. Families can, however, be relatively stress-free. A family does not need to move into crisis management mode until a major stressor occurs. If the family is not accustomed to the crisis, the family may also be limited to providing relevant information about the adaptation and coping mechanisms of the families as they relate to past crisis incidents or the interruption of the needs of the families as they have had to deal with a crisis situation for some time. This time, as not all members will react the same way, can be equally crucial. If a family member is unable to cope with the stress and turn away from the family, a new stress is created as this did not match the pre-crisis model of the families. The family nurse can assist in setting goals based on the information provided. In order to return to the functional family unit they once were, the family will need to engage in discussion and work sessions. Unforeseen activities can lead to a disorganized attempt to achieve the goals of the family.