Establishing Rapport with Mexican American Men

1. Establishing Rapport with Mexican American Men Rogelio Serrano, MFT rogelio_serrano@sbcglobal.net www.rogelioserrano.com MRTL Pepperdine University

2. Socialization of “Macho” Men • How does culture endorse the demonstration of hypermasculine behaviors in men? • William Pollack (2006) found that (non-clinical) middle class white adolescents reported increasing level of depression, frustration, and confusion about masculinity as they got closer to adulthood. • Can a “macho” man engage in therapy and change? • One study found that group therapy combined with psychoeducational training for teen Mexican-American fathers in the juvenile justice system improved their commitment towards fatherhood and engagement with their children (Parra-Cardona, Wampler, & Sharp, 2006).

3. Considerations for Interview Process • Explore “psychological” concepts of illness, dysfunction, healing and treatment • In a survey of 148 Mexican-American men in the southwest, only 10% endorsed stereotypical views of the “macho” man (Torres, et al, 2002). • Research finds that some Mexican-American men demonstrate both positive (caballerismo) and negative (macho) attributes of gender based behaviors (Arciniega, et al, 2008). • Mirande (1997) found that over half (52%) of Latino men in his survey viewed “macho” as a negative construct. • Kanel (2002) surveyed 265 Latino men from various socioeconomic and age levels found that only 18% wanted to discuss “early childhood issues” if receiving mental health services. The majority of the sample (66%) would rather focus on family issues, parenting, or marriage problems.

4. Framework For Establishing Rapport (Taylor, Gambourg, Rivera, & Laureano, 2006)

5. Assessment of Mexican American Men • Determine etiology of health-seeking behaviors (current and previous). • Previous medical services, current medical problems, cultural healing practices • Typical pattern of “seeking therapy” for Immigrant Latinos: 1) immediate/extended family 2) social network 3) community (Cabassa, 2007) • Discuss areas of life that are “threatened” by current presenting problems • Gender roles, peer group, educational, romantic • Mexican-American men appear to seek health care when illness impacts role fulfillment (Sobralske, 2006).

6. Assessment of Mexican American Men (continued) • Discuss migration patterns and the level to which they impact current problems. • Include immigration impact of family and friends • Evaluate developmental (physical & psychological) transitions. • What external sources are connected to this problem? • Legal, educational, social, familial, communal, cultural, spiritual • Negotiate plan for addressing issues and explore ramifications of engaging in therapeutic process.

7. Macho Attributes • Aggressive • Violent • Domineering • Sexualized • Misogynistic • Sexist • Chauvinistic • Impulsive • Substance abusing • Abusive • Domineering • Intimidating • Responsible • Humble • Honest • Courageous • Loves Children • Nurturing • Proud • Romantic • Sensitive • Egalitarian • Respectful • Valiant

8. Tigres Del Norte “Mi Sangre Prisonera” (Valencia, E. 1998) I felt my heart exploding into a thousand pieces. I opened my arms to try and hug him. I saw him so beautiful playing on my lap. I felt the tears beginning to betray me. Behind the bars he looked at me with love. He was no longer a boy, he was a full fledged criminal. I lost my life wrapped up in my business. My allies were the insanity and ambition. I didn’t make time to play with him a little bit or cultivate his heart with love. They educated him for me in the streets little by little. They gave him back to me with a prison degree. How I would love to turn him back fifteen years and be able to tumble his cell. How it hurts to see my blood imprisoned like a animal walking in a cage. In my soul I feel the accusations from his mother. He is not guilty, I am the criminal! Where has my little boy gone? When he asked for love I did not open my heart. I never took him to school. Little did I coddle him in my arms. I didn’t even give him a hug on the day of his graduation. I made money my god and the son I love so much I turned into a convict in prison. Of what use was the money! I ended up a beggar suffering with passion for my son. How I would love to turn him back fifteen years and be able to tumble his cell. How it hurts to see my blood imprisoned like a animal walking in a cage. In my soul I feel the accusations from his mother. He is not guilty, I am the criminal!

9. References • Arciniega, M.G., Anderson, T.C., Tovar-Blank, Z.G., & Tracey, T.J.G. (2008). Toward a fuller conception of Machismo: Development of a traditional machismo and caballerismo scale. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 55(1), 19-33. • Cabassa, L.J. (2007). Latino men’s perceptions of depression and attitudes toward help seeking. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 29 (4), 492-509. • Kanel, K. (2002). Mental health needs of Spanish speaking Latinos in southern California. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 24 (1), 74-91. • Mirande, A. (1997). Hombres y machos: Masculinity and Latino culture. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

10. References (cont.) • Pollack, W. (2006). The “war” for boys: Hearing “real boys” voices, healing their pain. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 37(2), 190-195. • Sobralske, M.C. (2006) Health care seeking among Mexican American men. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 17(2), 129-138. • Taylor B.A., Gambourg M.B., Rivera, M., & Laureano, D. (2006). Constructing cultural competence: Perspectives of family therapists working with Latino families. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 34, 429-445. • Torres, J.B., Solberg, V.S.H., & Carlstrom, A.H. (2002). The myth of sameness among Latino men and their machismo. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 72(2), 163-181.