MFT 5273 A5

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Capella University *

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5273

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Communications

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Feb 20, 2024

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Contemporary Challenges and Cultural Awareness Jamilah Hakim MFT 5273 Dr. Paul Maione Feb. 11 2024

Introduction Daniel and Tonya Smith, who have been married for 19 years, find themselves facing their busiest period yet in their mid-40s. Both maintaining stable careers, they are also deeply involved in the lives of their two children, aged between 11 and 14, who participate in demanding extracurricular activities requiring substantial parental support. Additionally, the couple faces the challenge of caring for Tonya's mother, Loretta, whose health has been declining. Loretta moved in with the Smiths a year ago from Dominican Republic, and her need for assistance grows daily, with no alternative living arrangements currently in sight. This situation has caused significant tension between Daniel and Tonya. Daniel advocates for moving Loretta to an assisted living facility, believing it would provide her with better care and allow him to regain the closeness he once shared with his wife. On the other hand, Tonya strongly opposes the idea, fearing it would be tantamount to abandonment. Loretta's deeply ingrained cultural values, shaped by her Latino heritage, emphasize the importance of family care and loyalty, further complicating the situation. Daniel occasionally perceives Loretta's involvement in their already complex lives as the ultimate barrier between himself and Tonya. He finds it challenging to comprehend Tonya's insistence on being the primary caregiver for her mother, especially considering the strain it places on their marriage and the availability of more suitable alternatives. Conversely, Tonya struggles to comprehend Daniel's perceived disrespect and self-centeredness regarding the situation, and she's weary of his persistent complaints and criticisms. Their arguments seem to follow a repetitive pattern, leading to frustration and resentment. Engaging with an emotionally- focused couples therapist can assist Daniel and Tonya in recognizing these negative

interaction patterns, as well as understanding their underlying emotions and attachment needs. Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) integrates key components of attachment theory, experiential theory, and systems theory (Gehart, 2018). Its central aim is to facilitate couples in establishing a secure and nurturing emotional connection through three primary objectives. Firstly, it seeks to foster a trusting therapeutic relationship. Secondly, it encourages couples to recognize and broaden their understanding of their emotional reactions within their interactions. The third objective of EFT involves guiding couples in restructuring their interactional patterns and responses, ultimately fostering the development of more secure bonds between them (Gurman et al., 2015). Sue Johnson, the primary architect of EFT, delineated the following as the foundational assumptions of emotionally focused therapy: 1) Emotional connection is an inherent necessity for all individuals, persisting throughout their lives. 2) "Effective dependency," or interdependency, denotes the balanced state between excessive dependence and complete autonomy. 3) Secure attachment serves to alleviate stress and mitigate its adverse effects. 4) Healthy attachment furnishes a secure foundation crucial for both adults and children, fostering self-exploration and expression. 5) Building secure bonds hinges upon emotional availability and responsiveness. 6) Destructive patterns arise from an amplified need for comfort and connection prompted by relational threats. 7) When attachment needs remain unmet, a predictable survival response of separation distress ensues. 8) Insecure attachment styles—

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namely anxious, avoidant, and a combination of both—manifest when a relationship is under threat. 9) Individuals comprehend themselves and others through the lens of their attachments, guiding their relational engagement. 10) Loss of emotional connection and ensuing isolation are intrinsically traumatic experiences (Gehart, 2018; Johnson, 2004). Daniel and Tonya's therapy with an EFT therapist will progress through three stages. Initially, in Stage 1, the therapist will establish a robust alliance with the couple while aiding them in pinpointing the precise nature of their problematic relational dynamics concerning their attachment needs. Daniel and Tonya will begin to acknowledge these needs and emotions within themselves and understand how they contribute to their relational patterns. Their issues will be reframed to perceive their cycle as the antagonist rather than each other. Moving to Stage 2, the therapist will further assist Daniel and Tonya in attuning to their neglected attachment needs and integrating them into their interactions. They will work on validating each other's personal experiences and fostering new modes of engagement, including direct communication about emotions, needs, and desires, and integrating newfound understanding into their bonding experiences. Finally, in Stage 3, the couple may address the matter of Loretta living with them. While EFT typically focuses on process rather than specific content, in this stage, couples may leverage their newfound secure attachment and revised interaction patterns to revisit longstanding issues. (Gehart, 2018; Johnson, 2004). Missing Information Understanding the comprehensive context of a family is crucial regardless of the therapy model employed. This encompasses various

aspects such as the dynamics between family members, individual challenges within the family system, ongoing stressors, past traumatic experiences, family history, cultural background, and more. In the case of Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), specific details are examined during initial assessments, as outlined by Gehart (2018) and Furrow et al. (2011). These details include, but are not limited to, perceptions of strengths and issues within the family, attachment histories of each member, the evolution of the relationship and significant events therein, and the current level of commitment within the relationship. Gathering such comprehensive information provides the therapist with a holistic understanding of the family's dynamics and facilitates tailored therapeutic interventions. Throughout the treatment process, the therapist consistently evaluates various aspects of the couple's interaction, including their responsiveness, level of reactivity, degree of openness, and more, as outlined by Gehart (2018) and Furrow et al. (2011). In emotionally focused therapy (EFT), like other therapeutic approaches, the strategic use of questions is crucial for uncovering valuable insights into a person's cultural background, personal beliefs, values, attachment styles, and more. Here are examples of the types of questions an EFT therapist might ask: 1) "Could you please describe the structure of your family setup during your formative years? What were your parents' occupations, and where did you spend your childhood?" 2) "Take a moment to reflect on your earliest memories... What stands out to you from those early experiences?" 3) "How would you describe the nature of your relationship with your parents and siblings in just a few words?" 4) "Could you share what your typical

response was when [specific situation] occurred during your childhood? How did you feel about it then, and have those feelings evolved over time?" 5) "Do you believe that your experiences during childhood have influenced the formation of your personality, beliefs, or values? If so, in what ways?" These questions aim to elicit reflections on past experiences and their impact on the individual's development, providing valuable insights for tailoring therapeutic interventions in emotionally focused therapy. If more information were known about the Smith family, it could reveal dynamics such as Daniel being the "pursuer" in their negative interaction cycle, as he actively seeks connection with Tonya. Conversely, Tonya may take on the role of the "withdrawer," as she tends to shut down communication when Daniel attempts to address their issues. In emotionally focused therapy (EFT), the therapist would assist Daniel and Tonya in understanding the underlying attachment needs driving their interaction patterns. Through consistent and genuine efforts during therapy, they would gradually learn to communicate these needs in a healthier manner. This process would enable them to explore new solutions to their problems while simultaneously rebuilding their emotional connection an d strengthening their secure attachment bonds (Gehart, 2018). Cultural Considerations According to Hsu (2001), intercultural couples are more likely to face challenges due to the diversity of values, beliefs, attitudes, and habits they hold compared to couples of similar cultural backgrounds. These differences can be deeply ingrained and may not always be immediately recognized as culturally based (Maynigo, 2015). Consequently, navigating these differences can pose additional challenges for couples, making it essential to address and understand the cultural factors underlying their differences.

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For Daniel and Tonya, significant differences exist in their perspectives on familial care and support. Beyene et al. (2002) highlight that individuals from Latino cultures often regard the senior years as a unique phase of life, deserving of heightened respect and recognition for the elderly's contributions and caregiving efforts towards younger generations. In Latino culture, there exists a strong social and moral expectation for children to provide support to their elderly parents (Beyene et al., 2002, p. 160). Moreover, their research suggests that Latino participants originating from societies where the elderly hold a revered status often perceive a lesser degree of respect for older individuals in the United States compared to their home countries (Beyene et al., 2002, p. 161). Parra-Cardona et al. (2009) further elaborate on the significance of "respeto" as a core Latino value, which differs considerably from the concept of respect in mainstream American culture, particularly concerning family dynamics. For many Latinos, the commitment to "la familia" may outweigh even financial or professional achievements (Parra-Cardona et al., 2009, p. 349). These cultural disparities in perspectives on familial obligations and values may contribute to the challenges Daniel and Tonya face in reconciling their differing viewpoints regarding the care of Tonya's mother. Therapist Personal Background I am a 32-year-old African American Woman with a Jamaican Background on my father’s side of the family. My Jamaican roots align with Tonya’s Latino background. We too hold our elders in high regard and take responsibility in helping them when they cannot take care of themselves. Jamaicans are known to live with their family members as adults and especially when an elder may be sick. The first thing I would want to focus on is making sure that I remain neutral. I would not want to appear like I am taking Tonya’s side because of the familiarity of our cultures. I was also married to a man that did not inform me is mother would move into our

home, which could sway me to Daniel’s side as well. In regard to these two parts of my background history, I would need to focus on remaining neutral. Conclusion Marriage and family therapists must always remain cognizant of how their own worldviews, cultural backgrounds, personal values, and beliefs can impact their work with clients. This awareness becomes especially crucial when working with couples who come from diverse backgrounds and may hold conflicting views on significant life matters. Often, these differences can lead to negative interaction patterns that feel impossible to break free from. Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is particularly well-suited for couples who find themselves trapped in these futile communication cycles. EFT provides an excellent framework for couples struggling in their relationships, especially those who may be unaware of the cultural influences shaping their thoughts and emotions. The model helps couples recognize their underlying needs, learn more effective communication strategies to express those needs, and ultimately rebuild safe and secure emotional bonds with one another.

References Beyene, Y., Becker, G., & Mayen, N. (2002). Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 17(2), 155–172. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1015886816483 Furrow, J., Ruderman, L., & Woolley, S. (2011). Emotionally focused therapy four-day externship. Santa Barbara, CA, September 7–10 Gurman, A. S., Lebow, J. L., & Snyder, D. K. (Eds.). (2015). Clinical handbook of couple therapy, fifth edition. Guilford Publications Hsu, J. (2001). Marital therapy for intercultural couples. In W. Tseng & J. Streltzer (Eds.), Culture and psychotherapy (pp. 225-242). Washington, D.C.: American Psychiatric. Johnson, S. M. (2004). The practice of emotionally focused marital therapy: Creating connection (2nd ed.). Brunner/Routledge. Main, M. B. (n.d.). Adult Attachment Interview Protocol. https://drrebeccajorgensen.com/libr/aai_interview.pdf Maynigo, P. M. (2015). Cultural differences in attachment and emotion: Emotionally focused therapy with intercultural couples (dissertation). ProQuest, Ann Arbor, MI. Parra-Cardona, J. R., Córdova, D., Jr., Holtrop, K., Escobar-Chew, A. R., & Horsford, S. (2009). Culturally informed emotionally focused therapy with Latino/a immigrant couples. In M. Rastogi & V. Thomas (Eds.), Multicultural Couple Therapy (pp. 345–368). Sage Publications, Inc.

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