The Family Crucible: The Intense Experience of Family Therapy

Whitaker calls Napier to regretfully ask him if he is free for an emergency appointment with the Brices. Napier agrees, sad to sacrifice time with his family. The meeting was called after Carolyn and Claudia had a major altercation that resulted in Carolyn hitting Claudia and bruising her face. Carolyn explains that she was frustrated with the lack of help at dinner time, and her frustration toward the whole family, Napier reasons, was taken out on Claudia. Whitaker is sure that allowing Carolyn and Claudia to argue in therapy and finish what they have begun will help, but Napier is nervous throughout, worried that physical violence could recur.

Carolyn and Claudia are given the chance to argue and express their emotions, and Carolyn decides to give Claudia an ultimatum: Either obey her mother, or leave the family home permanently. Sensing her mother’s newfound strength and her father’s decision to side with his wife, Claudia becomes nervous at the prospect that her parents will give up on her. She attempts to leave the meeting and stomps toward the door, but finds it locked from the inside. Everyone in the room starts to laugh, including Claudia. Napier gently encourages her to sit back down, and she does after hearing her mother’s softened