From an individual perspective, asking a linear question assumes that there is a cause and an effect. If there is a problem, then someone must have caused the problem. A family systems counselor would be more interested in asking systemic or circular questions to determine the mutually influencing interactions that are interrupting family homeostasis. This way of asking questions may be new to you. In this unit, we will practice developing the skills to ask questions that reveal the mutually influencing circle of causality.

For this discussion, use the following Sanchez family case study:

Pablo Sanchez, 41, and his wife Maria, 40, have immigrated to the United States from Columbia with their three children. Emilio is 19, the eldest and only son in the family. Angela (17) and Anna (15) have looked forward to the move to the United States.

The family was successful in Columbia but decided to immigrate because Pablo felt there would be more opportunities for his children. The family was able to purchase a small piece of land in a rural community in the western part of the United States with the intention of producing grapes to market to a winery.

Pablo and the children are quite fluent in English although Spanish is the first language used in the home. Maria knows some English but lacks confidence in her ability to speak the language.

Pablo was brought up in a strict Catholic home, educated by nuns through twelfth grade. Pablo has always been in good health and is unusually physically strong. Pablo married his childhood sweetheart, Maria, at the age of 20.

Maria has known Pablo her entire life and married Pablo at the age of 19, straight from a convent all-girls’ school. Any time they spent together prior to their marriage was chaperoned by a great aunt. Maria’s parents died in a plane accident when she was 12 years old. Maria is an only child and Pablo’ family is now her only family. The marriage is very traditional in roles.

Emilio is the first born and the only son of Pablo and Maria and the hope of their family name. Pablo has plans for Emilio to go into this new family business and looks forward to the many grandchildren that Emilio will give to the family. Emilio has great respect for his parents, family, and tradition and always wants to please everyone. Emilio wants to attend college and is struggling with his identity.

Angela is very outgoing and has already adjusted to this community. Angela has already made a lot of friends in her new school situation and is looking forward to going away to college to be away from the rigidness she perceives in her family.

Anna is very shy. She has not been able to make friends and every day is a struggle to attend school. Anna spends her time with her mother. If she is not with her, she retreats to her room. Anna’s schoolwork is suffering and she is withdrawing more and more from everyone. Anna wants to be anywhere else but right here and feels tired and empty. Anna has started to wear loose clothing and long sleeves even on warm days.

Pablo has begun to feel unusually fatigued and has had some moments of feeling unsteady when he is working in the vineyard. He has had some moments of numbness and blurred vision but attributes them to the long hours.

Pablo is feeling financial stress and pushing Emilio to postpone going to college to be more help in the fields. Pablo continues to drive home the point that Emilio must carry on the family name and take his place within the family business. Though Pablo is encouraging Emilio to be more involved, he feels guilty about placing this on Emilio because education was the very reason they had immigrated to this country. Emilio wants to please his father and continues to work in the vineyard but wants to go to college. Emilio is starting to show signs of depression because he wants to go to college and not work in the family business.

Pablo continues to work long hours in the vineyard, meeting with local winemakers and marketing his product. There have been some extra financial burdens. Pablo falls one day, having total numbness in his lower back and legs. For this reason, he was brought to the hospital for tests. The family feels it is the strain of what he has been under but the MRI reveals that Pablo has multiple sclerosis that seems to be progressing rather rapidly. Pablo is admitted to the hospital with plans to have him participate in rehabilitation.

Emilio is starting to feel an enormous burden because his mother has told him that he is now the “man of the family” and needs to fill his father’s role while he is ill. Emilio works each day and goes straight to his room. He has mostly stopped eating and communicates very little.

Complete the following:

• Identify 6-8 questions that you might ask Pablo, Maria, Emilio, Angela, and Anna using a linear (cause-and-effect) perspective.
• Identify 6-8 systemic or circular questions that you would ask Pablo, Maria, Emilio, Angela, and Anna to widen the understanding of the mutually influencing interactions.
• Compare and contrast the types of information those questions are likely to generate.

From an individual perspective, asking a linear question assumes that there is a cause and an effect. If there is a problem, then someone must have caused the problem. A family systems counselor would be more interested in asking systemic or circular questions to determine the mutually influencing interactions that are interrupting family homeostasis. This way of asking questions may be new to you. In this unit, we will practice developing the skills to ask questions that reveal the mutually influencing circle of causality.

For this discussion, use the following Sanchez family case study:

Pablo Sanchez, 41, and his wife Maria, 40, have immigrated to the United States from Columbia with their three children. Emilio is 19, the eldest and only son in the family. Angela (17) and Anna (15) have looked forward to the move to the United States.

The family was successful in Columbia but decided to immigrate because Pablo felt there would be more opportunities for his children. The family was able to purchase a small piece of land in a rural community in the western part of the United States with the intention of producing grapes to market to a winery.

Pablo and the children are quite fluent in English although Spanish is the first language used in the home. Maria knows some English but lacks confidence in her ability to speak the language.

Pablo was brought up in a strict Catholic home, educated by nuns through twelfth grade. Pablo has always been in good health and is unusually physically strong. Pablo married his childhood sweetheart, Maria, at the age of 20.

Maria has known Pablo her entire life and married Pablo at the age of 19, straight from a convent all-girls’ school. Any time they spent together prior to their marriage was chaperoned by a great aunt. Maria’s parents died in a plane accident when she was 12 years old. Maria is an only child and Pablo’ family is now her only family. The marriage is very traditional in roles.

Emilio is the first born and the only son of Pablo and Maria and the hope of their family name. Pablo has plans for Emilio to go into this new family business and looks forward to the many grandchildren that Emilio will give to the family. Emilio has great respect for his parents, family, and tradition and always wants to please everyone. Emilio wants to attend college and is struggling with his identity.

Angela is very outgoing and has already adjusted to this community. Angela has already made a lot of friends in her new school situation and is looking forward to going away to college to be away from the rigidness she perceives in her family.

Anna is very shy. She has not been able to make friends and every day is a struggle to attend school. Anna spends her time with her mother. If she is not with her, she retreats to her room. Anna’s schoolwork is suffering and she is withdrawing more and more from everyone. Anna wants to be anywhere else but right here and feels tired and empty. Anna has started to wear loose clothing and long sleeves even on warm days.

Pablo has begun to feel unusually fatigued and has had some moments of feeling unsteady when he is working in the vineyard. He has had some moments of numbness and blurred vision but attributes them to the long hours.

Pablo is feeling financial stress and pushing Emilio to postpone going to college to be more help in the fields. Pablo continues to drive home the point that Emilio must carry on the family name and take his place within the family business. Though Pablo is encouraging Emilio to be more involved, he feels guilty about placing this on Emilio because education was the very reason they had immigrated to this country. Emilio wants to please his father and continues to work in the vineyard but wants to go to college. Emilio is starting to show signs of depression because he wants to go to college and not work in the family business.

Pablo continues to work long hours in the vineyard, meeting with local winemakers and marketing his product. There have been some extra financial burdens. Pablo falls one day, having total numbness in his lower back and legs. For this reason, he was brought to the hospital for tests. The family feels it is the strain of what he has been under but the MRI reveals that Pablo has multiple sclerosis that seems to be progressing rather rapidly. Pablo is admitted to the hospital with plans to have him participate in rehabilitation.

Emilio is starting to feel an enormous burden because his mother has told him that he is now the “man of the family” and needs to fill his father’s role while he is ill. Emilio works each day and goes straight to his room. He has mostly stopped eating and communicates very little.

Complete the following:

• Identify 6-8 questions that you might ask Pablo, Maria, Emilio, Angela, and Anna using a linear (cause-and-effect) perspective.
• Identify 6-8 systemic or circular questions that you would ask Pablo, Maria, Emilio, Angela, and Anna to widen the understanding of the mutually influencing interactions.
• Compare and contrast the types of information those questions are likely to generate.