Vignette

Mark (44) and Susan (42) arrive with their 15-year-old son Jake, the identified patient with anger issues. In a structural assessment session, the therapist observes that Jake becomes agitated whenever his parents disagree about discipline. Jake's anger appears to escalate before his parents' arguments peak — as if he is absorbing the tension. Susan's body language reveals that she frequently yields to Mark's opinions to avoid escalation. Mark describes his own father as 'a strict man who didn't tolerate backtalk.' The therapist recognizes that Jake may be triangulated into the parental conflict. What is the MOST appropriate Bowen intervention?