Latinos and Domestic Violence2

Latino and Domestic Violence:Effective Outreach and Treatment Approaches : 

Latino and Domestic Violence:Effective Outreach and Treatment Approaches Ingrid Ramos, MA Charlottesville League of Therapists May 21th, 2010

Engagement and Treatment for Latinos dealing with issues of Domestic Violence : 

Engagement and Treatment for Latinos dealing with issues of Domestic Violence How to Engage the client using strength of their culture Issues to consider in treatment and that could be conflicting with Dominant Culture Approach

Stories- “Abriendo Las Cajas” : 

Stories- “Abriendo Las Cajas” Pati Also Received Flowers Where I want to Go

Common Theme in Stories : 

Common Theme in Stories Courtship- charming guy/ shift in the relationship after marriage Pressure to get married after becoming sexually active Girl married before 18 year old Living in the house of partner’s mother Secrecy of the abuse Power and control: The woman becomes a property.

Common Theme in Stories : 

Common Theme in Stories Mother advice: Self-sacrifice and gaining power through pregnancy Maturity comes with fatherhood and that relays on the woman It is responsibility of the woman to maintain homeostasis Appreciation of positive traits of the man: good provider and father Motivation: This is harming my children; they deserve better

Understanding DV and Latinos : 

Understanding DV and Latinos Approaches to Family Violence by Service Providers: Psychological Approach Social Approach Socio-cultural issues Social learning theory Feminist Approach

Ecological Approach : 

Ecological Approach

Ecological Approach : 

Ecological Approach Helps to understand cultural beliefs of the client How these beliefs influence client interaction with the dominant culture system

Slide 9: 

“Culture should not be used as a mask that explains all behavior, nor can it be dismissed as superfluous in understanding behavior”. Welland & Ribner (2008)

Latinos’ Values and DV : 

Latinos’ Values and DV Familism Personalism Respeto Simpatia Politeness

Latinos’ Values : 

Latinos’ Values Familism- Loyalty to the family Includes 3 or 4 generation of relatives People are included and participate in large family networks Collectivism and Interdependence Latinos migrate toward extended family, instead of away from them Boundaries- Extended family participate in one’s personal decision.

Latinos’ Values : 

Latinos’ Values Familism Understanding of power relations is learned within the family: gender roles and expectations ***Note: The Latino Family is dynamic moving toward egalitarianism.

Gender Mystique : 

Gender Mystique (Yin and Yang) Machismo and Marianismo Dual Connotations

Gender Mystique : 

Gender Mystique Machismo- Negative Connotation Physically strong and upstanding character Potently Virile Have more sexual relationships/ readiness Engender more sons Command respect of his children Dominate his wife (if necessary using physical force of violence) The better man is the one who can drink the most

Gender Mystique : 

Gender Mystique Machismo- Positive connotations “El Hombre de la Casa” Pleasing women and being a “caballero” Devoted to the women in his family Provider and Protector of the family Ability to restrain his emotions to endure pain and adversity Responsible to uphold the honor of the family Represents the family in public

Slide 16: 

The Aragon Family A walk in the Clouds (6)

Gender Mystique : 

Gender Mystique Marianismo- Devotion to Maria Women are categorized “good ones” and “bad ones” “Good ones”: The self-sacrificing syndrome Dependent, submissive, religious Humble and Modest She can be sexual after being married

Gender Mystique : 

Gender Mystique Marianismo- Devotion to Maria Sex is one of the wife’s duties (she must endure and not refuse) Fidelity is mandatory Marriage is indissoluble Destined to be wife and mother rather than and autonomous individual***

Gender Mystique : 

Gender Mystique Marianismo- Devotion to Maria The “bad ones” Manipulative of the man Sexually seductive and attractive She does things for her own benefit (no taking into consideration implication of actions for children, husband, and family).

Gender Mystique : 

Gender Mystique Marianismo Woman’s self-esteem is tied to her ability to be a giving, generous mother Gain of respect and reverence in the community and family by fulfilling her role Docility is not requisite after she becomes older ….empty nest… grandmother

Gender Mystique : 

Gender Mystique Marianismo Women are spiritually superior than men Women pass on cultural traditions and religious values Women are in charge of the children and the household Women are responsible to foster sense of familism, politeness, simpatia, personalism, and camaraderia

Gender Mystique : 

Gender Mystique Hembrismo: Superwoman- She can do it all Determination Strength, endurance, and bravery

Gender Mystique : 

Gender Mystique Complexity and Controversial The man shows in public his patriarchal powers, however after the woman is established as a mother he perceives her as having tremendous power over him and the family.

Slide 24: 

The Aragon Family A walk in the Clouds (7)

Parenthood vs. Partnerhood : 

Parenthood vs. Partnerhood Romanticism of courtship shifts quickly to a focus on family formation and parenthood Emphasis on parent’s role rather than marital partner “Latino parents appear more challenged by shortcomings in performance in their parental obligations than by failure to be a good partner to their spouse” Falicov (1998)

Intergenerational and Nuclear Family Models : 

Intergenerational and Nuclear Family Models The nuclear family is not isolated Men and women relate intimately with members of the same sex There are fewer demands placed on each other spouse for self-disclosure, emotional support and intimacy

Intergenerational and Nuclear Family Models : 

Intergenerational and Nuclear Family Models Latino men have an “amigo system”(+/-) Latino women relay on “women’s wisdom” in their network to fulfill their gender role as wife and mother and to gain the merits of their mothers and grandmothers

Gender Roles, Immigration and DV : 

Gender Roles, Immigration and DV Migration to Urban areas or to USA increases the risks for DV: Women: start working, increase of outside family network relationship, self-worth. Children: Learned new language and dominant culture values threaten father’s authority and control. Men: Immigration issues contribute to losing status if he can’t provide for the family

Gender Roles, Immigration and DV : 

Gender Roles, Immigration and DV Machismo dictates that he shares his anxiety and confusion with no body Man responds with increase authority, control, excessive drinking, high risk sexual behavior. Women become depressed and confused without support system.

Engagement and Treatment : 

Engagement and Treatment Use of cultural awareness to : To build trusting and therapeutic relationship Deliver culturally competent treatment Help client in decision making

Continuum on DV : 

Continuum on DV

Effective Therapeutic Modalities for Latino : 

Effective Therapeutic Modalities for Latino Couples/ Family: Structural Family Therapy Establish hierarchy Understanding power relations Working on boundaries Correcting negative family patterns

Effective Therapeutic Modalities : 

Effective Therapeutic Modalities Women: Individual therapy (Specially during crisis) Group therapy/ support group Brakes isolation Recreates family bonds Therapists/ facilitators as parents

Effective Therapeutic Modalities : 

Effective Therapeutic Modalities Men: Group Therapy Emphasis on Parenting Education Discussion or rigid gender roles Acknowledgment of discrimination against immigrants and women Open discussion of sexual abuse in relationships Inclusion of Spirituality

Ideas for Engagement : 

Ideas for Engagement Respeto- “Namaste” Personalism- Person is first, then business; Being authentic, use of humor, empathic, show interest in client’s culture and personal story Familism- You are not alone with the client, he/she carries the family.

Ideas for Engagement : 

Ideas for Engagement Familism- Latinos will seek help for their children There is stigma around Mental Health Motivation: The wellbeing of the children, or how DV is impacting the children and the family

Ideas for Engagement : 

Ideas for Engagement Familism- Latinos value spontaneity and interpersonal relationship You could become family to them Appreciation of self-disclosure Authority: You are an authority- be aware of your power, use respect Latino could consent “yes”, but not necessarily understand or will follow up

Ideas for Engagement : 

Ideas for Engagement Authority: Pace and lead Wait for self-disclosure from the client Appreciate any sign of assertiveness in the client Time: Flexibility for initial visits Build trust with time Create an agenda with them Politeness: No Confrontational models: increase of drop out or worsening of symptoms Confrontation could be well taken after you have gain trust and respect

Ideas for Engagement : 

Ideas for Engagement Falicov (1998): “love in the time of cultural transition”: discussion of gender and love instead of gender and power Use of songs, stories, poems, documents or statements from entities in country of origin, characters or biographies, novels, etc. Consent: Explaining therapy, clarifying goals, issues of confidentiality, understanding of tasks (very descriptive) No assumption and always check in for clear understanding

Reference and Bibliography : 

Reference and Bibliography Falicov (1998). Latino Families in Therapy: A guide to multicultural practice. New York, NY: The Guilford Press Smith & Montilla (2006). Counseling and Family Therapy with Latino Populations: Strategies that work. New York, NY: Routledge Taylor & Francis group Welland & Neil Ribner. Healing from Violence: Latino Men’s Journey to a New Masculinity Welland & Wexler (2007). Sin Golpes. Como transformar la respuesta violenta de los hombres en la pareja y la familia. Mexico, DF: Editorial Pax Mexico

Effective Outreach with Latinos : 

Effective Outreach with Latinos

Stories- “Opening Boxes” : 

Stories- “Opening Boxes” A Story… Maricela

Slide 43: 

Contact with Services Provider: Social Services, schools, Shelters, Health Promoters Education about services and ways of accessing services for Latinos Outreach

Slide 44: 

Contact through: doctors, churches, hair salons, Hispanic Stores Participation in Educational groups for Latinos in the Community: churches, ESL classes, support groups for mothers or women in general, AA meetings, etc. Outreach

Slide 45: 

Outreach Preference. The preferred venues for receiving information about medical issues include: presentations during a church service; home visits by CHIP and other service providers; health campaigns at work, in laundromats, in Latino owned stores, where English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are held, or elsewhere in the community; and neighborhood support groups made up of both women and men. Respondents stated that written materials are not an effective outreach tool unless there is limited text on one sheet of paper. Latino Health Survey/ Southwood October 2007 – February 2008

Slide 46: 

Outreach Preferences. These service providers support presentations on health and consequences of health problems in Latino homes, in support groups, neighborhoods, and especially in churches. They believe that information should distinguish what services are available according to immigration status (citizen, permanent resident, permission to work, undocumented). They believe help fairs are useful. They also believe medical and other service providers should do more outreach in the Latino community. They suggest service providers simplify processes to apply for and obtain services. They also think that there should be more opportunities to learn English and to learn about U.S. norms and culture. Latino Health Survey/ Southwood October 2007 – February 2008

Thanks!!!!! : 

Thanks!!!!! Charlottesville League of Therapists 911 E. Jefferson St. Charlottesville, VA 434-984-0023 Greater Richmond League of Therapists 10100 Iron Bridge Road Suite 102 Chesterfield, VA 23832 Phone: (804) 778-7443 Fax: (804) 778-7446