Introduction
Family-oriented treatment differs from individual therapy and requires more involvement and participation from the therapist. In a family visit, the therapist simultaneously takes on the role of moderator, judge, empathic listener, and role model. This paper aims to analyze the case of the “Rizzo” family, applying the theory to define relational structures and dynamics, family strengths, ecological resources, and limitations, set clear treatment goals, and develop two effective intervention strategies.
“Rizzo” family consisting of father Antonio (53), mother Anna (50), daughter Sophia (22), and son Marco (18) became the focus of the family therapist. Marco turned to the therapist and asked them to help him solve a personal problem – he dropped off at the community college. Despite the high scores, Marco had to surrender under pressure from his father. The latter believes that Marco should head the family business and devote his future to running a pizzeria and Italian restaurant. After Marco dropped off college, he became depressed and agitated. As the family influenced Marco’s decision, the therapist decided to conduct a series of family sessions.
During the discussion with Marco, it became clear that there are other problems in the family. In particular, this is an imbalance of power in favor of the father. The mother cannot support her son, but she internally approves of his right to make a career and develop in the chosen direction. There is also the problem of rigid internal boundaries, as family members cannot find a common language, and, according to Marco, his attempts to explain himself have failed.
Relational Structures and Dynamics
While the situation is somewhat typical, it includes several elements that represent the family structure. An adequate understanding of each of the following elements’ importance is a guarantee that the therapist can draw up a good family structure map and help the family solve their problem. First, there are three subsystems in this family – parental, marital, and sibling subsystems. Further, this family has complex internal boundaries. Since there is a particular leaning of power in favor of the father, who is rudely interrupting the mother during the discussion of family issues, there is likely a rigid internal boundary between them.
A rigid internal boundary between Marco and Antonio is also likely since they cannot understand each other and show their true feelings. Besides, it can be assumed that Marco does not have an internal boundary with Anna since their direct interactions were not mentioned at all. Perhaps this is the father’s fault, who may believe that the wife should not interfere with the upbringing of his son. Therefore, Antonio may marginalize Anna from family communication and participation in family decisions. Finally, there is a clear internal boundary between Marco and his sister Sophia, who lives in the other city and attends college. According to Marco, Sophia showed support and sympathy to him and encouraged him not to give up and make his own decision.
Fortunately, there are no visible triangulations in the family, but communication happens rarely and in a coercive tone expressed by the father. Besides, communication is likely to be ambiguous and indirect in other cases since only the father has the right to make decisions. Marco communicates with his father and Sophia but does not directly communicate with his mother; Sophia communicates with Marco and does not interact with his parents directly.
This situation may have been lasting for a long time since Marco noted that during their school years, he had to work in his father’s pizzeria, unlike Sophia. The father’s power may be dictated by cultural traditions, according to which men have more control but bear more responsibility. This factor needs to be considered, but power imbalance is still a problem for marital and parental subsystems.
The passive position of the mother reinforces the relationship between the father and other family members. She does not resort to any actions, even in secret from her husband. Therefore, Marco only receives support from a geographically remote sister who is not ready to intervene in the situation. The situation is also reinforced by the father’s relationship with his brothers, probably the elders, as he seeks to impose the pattern of relationships in their families.
Family’s Strengths
This family’s strengths are the absence of physical violence and deviant behavior among family members and the presence of two parents who provide financial support to their children. The father probably loves his family as he works for their good. Despite her husband’s attitude, the mother is not a toxic family member since she does not create diffused boundaries with Marco. Based on the story, Marco and Sophia were not involved in triangulation. Marco’s parents can probably let him go and let him make decisions, but this may be hampered by his father’s commitment to family traditions.
Ecological Resources and Limitations
In the case study, it was noted that neither mother nor father has college degrees, even though they devoted their entire lives to working in the family business. At the same time, Marco was considering majoring in business. The father said that he did not want to sell the business to another owner and therefore needed Marco to take over the leadership in the future. Perhaps Antonio did not consider other options; for example, he could hire a manager but remain the owner. Besides, even if Marco had agreed to help his father run a pizzeria, perhaps with a business education, he could have done more for the restaurant.
Specific Treatment Goals
The first treatment goal is to free up the family’s potential by opening alternative interactional patterns. Then, the second treatment goal is to modify dysfunctional structures using the structural map presented above. Finally, the third treatment goal is to ensure symptom relief, which can even come as a by-product after the two previous goals will be met. To be more specific, the first treatment goal is to improve communication between family members. The second goal is to restore the balance of powers between husband and wife in the marital subsystem, which will lead to restoring the same power balance in the parental subsystem. Finally, the third treatment goal is to help Marco make an independent decision and preserve good relations with his family, since, for now, he feels guilt and oppression.
Two Intervention Strategies
Scientists note that working as a family psychotherapist requires leadership, pragmatism, and courage. In most cases, when a family gets stuck, it happens not out of foolishness or ignorance but fear (Taibbi, 2015). Therefore, the therapist takes on the responsibility of becoming a leader who will structure current relationships, accept objective mistakes in relationships, and demonstrate courage by showing support for those who need it and bringing hidden problems to the surface.
Scientists Nichols & Davis (2020) note that there are seven types of interventions, including boundary-making and challenging unproductive assumptions. The latter two are most applicable to the situation presented. Besides, Nichols & Schwartz (2013) emphasize that instead of intervention, the therapist can sometimes use empathy as a therapeutic tool. The main task of boundary-making intervention will be to meet the first and the second treatment goals, namely improve the interaction patterns and restore the balance of powers.
To attain clearer and less rigid internal boundaries between the family members, the therapist can use several techniques. These are setting rules for interacting, rearranging seating to engage distant subsystems, inviting the interfering member to sit farther away and observe together with the therapist. In the situation presented, these techniques may prove useful. The therapist will also use the method of assisting tasks by asking Marco, Anna, and Antonio to discuss specific issues during the sessions. Besides, homework outside the sessions may be assigned to family members so that no one will feel marginalized.
The therapist will also intervene by challenging unproductive assumptions after family members will trust him more. In particular, the therapist will explain to Marco’s parents that education is critical to professional life success. The therapist may also suggest that Marco, who is studying business, finds several ways out of this situation that would allow the father to avoid selling the family business and deprive the family of a stable source of income.
Thus, the “Rizzo” family case was analyzed by applying the family treatment theory. Therapist’s first meeting with Marco and the information he provided allowed us to identify the family’s main problems, which consisted of rigid internal boundaries and power misbalance. Two intervention strategies were developed to help family members establish communication, balance forces, and rights, including making independent decisions. The second interventional strategy was developed to help Marco solve the initial problem and return to college.
References
Nichols, M. P. & Davis, S. D. (2020). Essentials of family therapy (7th ed.). Pearson.
Nichols, M. P., & Schwartz, R. C. (2013). Family therapy: Concepts and methods (11th ed.). Pearson.
Taibbi, R. (2015). Doing family therapy: Craft and creativity in clinical practice (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.