Vignette Analysis I

Family Systems Theory: Vignette Analysis I
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Introduction
Family therapy is vital for a cohesive and healthy relationship among couples and their children. The need to seek more guidance on matters that seem contradictory or unhealthy in the relationship has to be sourced and implemented as per the directions of the therapist. In line with togetherness in a family, communication, gender equality, cultural differences and role playing are some of the areas that can destabilize or stabilize it. Depending on the directions arguments about an issue that depends on cultural practices take, there may be a need for reconciliation for both parties to be involved in making decisions. This is more evident in families that the parents are from different cultures and owing to their practices they may practically have extremely different opinions about an issue. In this case, the work of the therapists becomes more crucial in bringing sanity in the relationship. It is, therefore, essential to assess families concerning their vignette before prescribing a treatment mechanism that will ensure both parties are satisfied.
Family Assessment
The disagreement between Tomas and Arlene on parenting style presents a much more complicated communication problem, cultural difference, and gender inequality. Owing to the origins of the couple, Hispanic and Asian their cultures somehow differ, and this may be the cause of the constant misunderstanding between them.

Their children are caught in the crossfire, and they seem to have an impaired communication especially to their father, Tomas. One of the essential components of a healthy relationship in a family is freedom of conversing and sharing of opinions that can be used solutions on different issues (Nichols & Davis, 2017). However, according to Tomas, his wife, and the children are supposed to be under his rules and decisions. This is the source of the difference in their parenting styles.
Communication breakdown between the parents on how a problem in the family should be shared has created an influx of pressure on the wife and the children. Allowing the children to be consent of the family issues is opposed by Tomas who thinks it’s wiser to be the sole decision maker of the household. It is, however, essential to involve all the members of the family in their internal issues. It is evident during the second session that the children are scared of their father and cannot talk without being allowed to. Furthermore, the boy child seems to have a disjoint with the family. The togetherness of the family is not there, and the children are not certain of whose direction to follow. Although Arlene is determined not to argue with his husband even after being called a disgrace, there is a need to have each one of them allow each other’s contribution in parenting the children.
Gender differences exhibited by the way the children are aligned if a symbol of improper balance between the two parents. Since the girls are old enough to hear and interpret whatever they hear, their father’s sentiments have created fear in them. During the second session, they seem withdrawn and uneasy. They are not free to their parents more so their Tomas. Judging from the first meeting, it is seen that Arlene cares about the kids’ well-being than Tomas. Involving the children in making solutions about the family blends a union among them and the parents hence allowing them to embrace the changes made. However, to Tomas, he is to be the sole decision maker of the family. This inequality has created a gap between the opposite genders in the family. This is indicated by the way Arlene behaves during the first session when Tomas claims she is not the wife he expects her to be. The lady is upset but does not oppose the husband due to her principles and respect she has for the position she has as a woman in the society. Much of her doings are determined from the past experiences of her family. For the interest of the children, it is seen that she always avoid confrontations with the husband. The equality and balance in gender in this family is missing hence the differences experienced in their parenting styles the two have.
Cultural differences play a significant role in parenting. Both Arlene and Tomas are not from the same culture. Hispanic culture allows parents to practice total control of their children and those under their care. As opposed to the Asian culture where the parents shoe affection and great love to their children as it seems to be instrumental in the development of a child. These differences in the two culture may be a source of is understanding between the couples on how their children should be molded. Tomas being of Hispanic origin thinks it is his right to take control of the family without anybody’s intervention while Arlene thinks it’s wise to involve everyone in the family in making vital decisions. Technically, the children, in this case, will align their support to the mother due to the moral support and love. Families with parents from different cultures should, therefore, ensure their differences do not affect the growth of their children (Nichols & Davis, 2017).
Since domestic violence can be interpreted in different angles, Tomas seems to be domestically abusing Arlene by openly terming her as a disgrace. The emotional attachment of such allegations creates a feeling of rejection and lack of appreciation for the contribution in the marriage. These further are transferred to the children and their psychological well-being and perceptions about their father changes. The authoritarian parenting style suggested by Tomas seems to violate most of the rights his wife and children are entitled. Furthermore, the feeling of love for the family vanishes. Psychologically, this can be seen as being psychological violence that involves destroying the inner being of a person by lowering his/her self-esteem.
The consequences of the oppression that Arlene is experiencing from Tomas may lead to anxiety and breed chances of drug use to cover up the inadequacy. Although there is no evidence of substance abuse and alcohol consumption from the vignette, there are chances that it may occur someday or it is already manifested in the parents. The possibility of involvement is such act is high especially with Arlene. She is even not willing to remove her glasses for fear of facing the husband and the therapist. It is advisable that a couple understands each other’s inner feelings and knows how to handle them in a way that may not lead to the development of other unwanted habits. In this case, Tomas and Arlene need to understand each other’s cultural practices, communication priorities, rights on decision making and their respective roles in shaping and developing the lives of their children.
Treatment Plan for the Family
Understanding how families operate is imperative if a change is to be initiated in their operations. For the case of Tomas and Arlene, it is essential to determine the missing element in their triangle for a cohesive and healthy relation to be re-established in their family. Having had growths from different cultures their opinions are affected by their past cultural practices. Using Bowens Family System Therapy is the most suitable approach to solving the difference between the two couples on parenting style they need to adopt. Furthermore, the dynamics of differentiations among the two are best explained by the Bowens theory.
Individuality and togetherness of couple in a family determines how best they blend their ideas and decisions. For this to be attained, they need to be differentiated highly. However, a third party (therapist) have to intervene is solving the variations in their individuality and possibly lack of coordination (Nichols & Davis, 2017). The concepts of multigenerational emotional processes, triangles, and emotional cutoff, as well as societal, psychological processes, are essential to the healing process of the problem this family is having. Evidently, Arlene has developed anxiety due to the impact of her husband’s authoritative tone and commands. Using Bowens’ theory, the capability of the two individuals to think, interplay and reflect their emotional attachment and opinions regarding their children can be addressed efficiently. Since the husband seems stagnated in his opinion to be in control of the family affairs, there is a necessity for a neutral voice to be allowed into the system. These will ensure there is equality in whatever is decided while at the same time providing an oversight service to the family. This is achieved through a regular session with the therapist to monitor the progress of the household regarding parenting.
Emotional triangles
When anxiety sets in, a person yearns for more emotional closeness. This is the case with Arlene who is under pressure to go against her wishes of providing the children a chance to be part of the family’s progress. These not only benefit the relationship of the family members but also allow the children to develop an insight on how to deal with different situations. This is paramount in their lives outside the family backyard. Therefore in ensuring the need for closeness is achieved, a third party should be included. These fix the triangle and avoid the impact of the disagreement to the children. If there is not intervention by a neutral party, the one suffering from anxiety (Arlene) will turn to the children to satisfy the need for emotional attachment. Consequently, the attachment of the children to their father will thus be lost making an element in their growth to miss. Triangulation is meant to freeze the conflict that exists between parties (Nichols & Davis, 2017)
Conditions for Behavioral Change
The primary mechanisms of change in Bowen’s therapy are lowering anxiety, increasing self-focus and enhancing interpersonal processes. These concepts can be used to restore communication, gender balance and make it possible to avoid the domestic violence that exists in Tomas’ family. In maintaining the association between the members of a family in a triangle, it is essential as a therapist to remain neutral of their decisions. For these to achieve it is advisable to have coordinated sessions with each member individually and other sessions for the whole family.
For a successive treatment plan for such like a family, there are distinct techniques that can be utilized. First, neutralizing the triangle is crucial. Remaining neutral on the emotional reactivity of the both people will allow them to reduce their emotionality and start thinking about their problems in a more realist way (Nichols & Davis, 2017). Second, individual questioning in closed session can be used to reduce their toning down emotions and foster a positive reflection to their problem. The questions will further reduce anxiety and try to find the perception of members (Arlene, Tomas, and the children) on the issue so that to identify the best approach the therapist can take in providing a solution. Lastly, coaching the two can be very vital in making them realize the source of their problem in decision making. For the sake of the development of the children, it is critical for the parents to understand the differences their culture brings in their development. The Hispanic and Asian cultures from which Tomas and Arlene respectively come from have significant impacts on their opinions, and it is, therefore, fundamental for them to neutralize the difference. As a therapist, it will, therefore, be important to realize the contribution of the same on the problem.
Conclusion
Emotionally focused therapy is mainly used by many therapists in enhancing the attachment between couples which is further felt by the children. A family whose parents have divergent views on how children and the internal matter of the house should be handles experiences turbulence in their everyday activities. The impact of such acts may lead to the emergence of disconnect between the parents and the children hence impairing their successful transitions in their lives. Lack of emotional attachment to both parents as well as moral support may lead to the development of anxiety among the children. For such problems to be amicably addressed, a third party is thus required. These will provide a neutral ground for the development of mutual understanding between the two. The treatment mechanism of such problems in families thus mostly relies on the historical background of the parents and their experiences in general.
References
Nichols, M. P., Davis, S. (2017). Family Therapy: Concepts and Methods, 11th Edition. [Bookshelf Online]. Retrieved from HYPERLINK “https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/” l “/books/9780133826883/” https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780133826883/