BSHS 335

The Case of Miguel.

Miguel, a Latino born in the United States, has completed his PhD and is working at a community clinic in family therapy. In his training he has learned about the concepts of directness, assertiveness, and triangulation (the tendency of two persons who are in conflict to involve a third person in their emotional system to reduce the stress). Miguel is watching for evidence of these tendencies. While he is counseling a Latino family, the father says to his son, “Your mother expects you to show her more respect than you do and to obey her.” Miguel says to the mother, “Can you say this directly to your son rather than allowing your husband to speak for you?” The room falls silent, and there is great discomfort.

CASE

When a two person relationship is unstable .The third person is the substitute for direct communication

Triangulation

• Need to establish a direct connection with the client

• Make the clients aware of the triangulation relationship they have

• Practice ways to communicate within each other without using a third person

Ways to Approach

• Gerald, C. Issues and Ethics in the Helping Professions (8th ed.).

References