Miguel, a Latino family therapist, is counseling a Latino family. During the session, the father tells the son that his mother expects more respect and obedience from him. Miguel directly asks the mother if she can say this to her son herself rather than having her husband speak for her. This causes discomfort in the room as the family falls silent. A student comments that while they agree with Miguel's goal of having the mother express herself, they would have approached it differently by asking an open-ended question to the mother to allow her to share her perspective without stating an opinion.

1. A Case
Illustrating
Virtue Ethics
BSHS 335
INSTRUCTOR: Beatriz Zayas

2. 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 confl ict 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.

4. I do not agree with the way the therapist
approached the father. I totally agree with
the therapist, though, I would of
approached the situation in a different way.
For example. I would ask a direct open
ended question to the mother in order to
start a conversation where she can express
her point of view. Instead of voicing my
opinion I would listen carefully to what the
mother has to say.

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