Family Disengagement

Based on the family’s analysis, conflict and disengagement emerges from the client and her family dynamics. Parents and their children will continue to experience conflict when one person is unsatisfied about the other person’s behaviors or beliefs (Cichy, Lefkowitz, & Fingerman, 2013). There are certain “constructive” and “avoidant” strategies a person uses when in conflict with another individual (Cichy et al., 2013). For individuals who want to remove themselves from the discussion he or she may block the request for conversation by withdrawing (Cichy et al., 2013). In regards to families, the disengagement of parents to their children could impact the quality of relationship (Cichy et al., 2013).

Although the family may look like a strong unit, each member is ineffective when expressing their feelings with one another.

According to the client’s brother, “Dad never mentioned his own dad, he only mentioned that he left him when he was two” (personal communication, October 1, 2015). As for the mother of the client’s dad, she moved to the United States from the Philippines in 1954 and remarried. The client’s father reunited with his mom in the United States three years after. The client’s dad always had a good relationship with his mother; he always wanted the best for her (Dad, personal communication, October 2, 2015). However, the absence of a child’s father could affect the child’s emotional and mental growth into adulthood (Balcom, 1998). An individual who was abandoned by their father when they were young have difficulties “sustaining long-term relationships”, “acknowledging their feelings”, and being “expressive” with their partners and children (Balcom, 1998). The client’s brother concluded that his father’s ability to disengage with his children could be due to the abandonment of his own father (Brother, personal communication, September 29,