Supernanny

Andrea Foss

Reality TV

TV Show

Everyone

Valuable for parents, children, and professionals.

Family dynamics

Supernanny is more than just a television show about child rearing. It encompasses the nitty-gritty in's and out's of what family systems are all about. The unruly child(ren) is(are) quickly recognized as the identified patient(s). Often there are marital issues as well. Then you add in any other children involved in the situation and spice it up with blended families, incompatible parenting values, and extraneous variables such as military service or illness and you have all the makings of a family therapy session. Supernanny gives one a way to visually label the pieces of the family system previously only read about in books. Jo, AKA Supernanny, has a no nonsense approach and does not shirk from approaching the parents with an issue no matter how sensitive. She is able to do this, for the most part, in an effective, caring, yet very serious way. Occasionally, the parents get annoyed with Jo and her approaches, often they even talk to her about having her leave. Invariably, Jo talks them around and they continue with their treatment.

 

Each episode could be a different family that a counselor might see in therapy. The issues are common but painful, the participants are at times hopeful and trusting, at others, avoidant and non-compliant. Each episode offers an inside look at the variables involved in Couples and Family Therapy.