ROLE PLAY 5 | PROBLEM-SOLVING IN INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Characters:

1. Maria (Age: 70) – A retired social worker who has a strong sense of responsibility and often takes on a caretaker role in her friendships and family. Maria tends to become frustrated when others don’t meet her expectations, and she struggles with setting healthy boundaries. She often avoids confrontation but feels burdened by the amount of emotional labour she invests in her relationships.
2. Samuel (Age: 75) – A retired engineer who enjoys solitude but values his friendships. Samuel tends to be more independent and less emotionally expressive. He has difficulty communicating his needs and feelings, and this often leads to misunderstandings with others. Samuel sometimes feels overwhelmed when others, particularly Margaret, rely too heavily on him for emotional support.
3. Anthony (Age: 42) – A therapist specializing in conflict resolution and emotional awareness. Anthony encourages participants to approach problems collaboratively and helps them explore solutions that benefit everyone involved. He remains calm and neutral, focusing on helping the participants understand each other’s perspectives.
4. David (Age: 47) – A therapist with experience in guiding group dynamics. David observes the session, stepping in when necessary to provide additional support or to help guide the participants toward mutually beneficial solutions. He works closely with Anthony to ensure the conversation remains productive and respectful.

Scenario:

During this FRIEND session, Anthony and David guide Maria and Samuel through a problem-solving exercise. The goal of the session is to help them identify and address a recurring issue in their friendship: Maria often feels that Samuel does not open up to her emotionally, while Samuel feels that Maria expects too much from him in terms of providing emotional support. Maria begins by expressing her frustration with Samuel. She feels that she’s always there for him, offering help and support, but he rarely reciprocates in the way she hopes. She believes that Samuel doesn’t appreciate her efforts, and this makes her feel undervalued in the relationship. Maria often takes on a caregiving role, and this dynamic leaves her feeling emotionally drained. Samuel, on the other hand, expresses that he doesn’t know how to meet Maria’s emotional needs. He feels overwhelmed by her expectations and isn’t sure how to communicate his own need for space and independence. Samuel finds it difficult to open up about his feelings and is afraid that if he doesn’t meet her expectations, their friendship will suffer. What should the facilitators do to handle this situation?

Questions for guided discussion on ROLE PLAY 5 | PROBLEM-SOLVING IN INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS:

• What specific strategies did the facilitators use to help Maria and Samuel focus on problem-solving, rather than dwelling on past grievances?
• What role did the facilitators play in guiding the participants towards finding a solution that worked for both of them, without imposing a resolution?
• What could the facilitators have done differently to ensure that both Maria and Samuel felt equally empowered to contribute to the solution, particularly in situations where one participant might dominate the conversation?