Integrating Technology into Family Counseling with Latinx/e Families: A Conceptual Framework for Culturally Responsive Practice

Abstract

As technology becomes increasingly embedded in daily family life, family counselors are tasked with thoughtfully integrating digital tools into treatment in ways that are ethically sound and culturally responsive. Latinx/e families, in particular, may experience unique relational shifts related to migration, acculturation stress, and intergenerational differences that can be addressed though intentional technology-enhanced interventions This conceptual article presents a framework for integrating technology into family counseling with Latinx/e families, grounded in cultural values such as familismo, personalismo, and respeto. Technology-based interventions are organized into four categories: Therapeutic Coordination Tools, Communication Enhancement, Cultural Preservation, and Play and Connection. Within each category, practical activities are described to support relational connection, emotional expression, and shared meaning-making within the family system. A case illustration is included to demonstrate clinical application and utility. Implications for family counselors are discussed, highlighting the potential for technology to function as both a relational bridge and a culturally affirming tool when used with purpose. This framework offers family counselors as a starting point for integrating technology into practice while honoring the diversity and strengths of Latinx/e families.

Introduction

Latinx/e Americans are the largest racial-ethnic minority group in the United States, making up almost 20% of the total population, with over 30% of Latinx/e individuals identifying as immigrants (U.S. Census Bureau, 2018). As a result of contextual, cultural, and structural influences during the migration process, the Latinx/e population faces challenges both in access to mental health care and while receiving mental health care (Bekteshi & Kang, 2020). From choosing to leave family behind, departing from their culture of origin, making the journey to the United States, and the cultural stress of adapting to the dominant culture in the United States, immigration is an experience unique to each individual and their family, with effects that are felt within a family generations after migration (Bekteshi & Kang, 2020; Escobar-Galvez et al., 2023). The Latinx/e population faces discrimination on the basis of various contexts and often has overarching areas of concern such as race, ethnicity, and class (Alvarez-Frank et al., 2025). Discrimination is perpetuated as anti-immigrant rhetoric and is sustained through anti-immigration policy and enforcement, such as detainment and deportation. In-turn this has a strong negative influence on mental health outcomes for Latinx/e American individuals and families (Mullins et al., 2024). Adolescents are especially vulnerable in this space and time, as they must learn to navigate a world where their family could be separated, or further separated if they are already living across borders from one another (Tellez-Lieberman et al., 2025).

Cultural stress also includes a myriad of challenges such as: adapting to a new cultural context, linguistic barriers, and losing social networks and social status (Alvarez-Frank et al., 2025). However, there are other contextual factors that cannot be overlooked including economic context and psychological context. Economic context relates to the financial privilege or marginalization that individuals bring along with the immigration journey, and psychological context relates to the interpretation and reaction to the migration experience (Bekteshi & Kang, 2020). Acculturation significantly influences the mental health of Latinx/e individuals and families (Escobar-Galvez et al., 2023). Although associated with positive outcomes, there is a strong relationship between acculturation and increased mental health issues (Bekteshi & Kang, 2020). Children and adolescents experience discrimination independently as well as alongside their loved ones (Henriquez et al., 2024).

This experience further exacerbates the negative impact of discrimination both personally and vicariously experienced, through familismo (Henriquez et al., 2024; Rastogi et al., 2012). Even though the joint experience of discrimination can hold a negative impact, there is a protective factor when families can cope through adverse experiences together (Henriquez et al., 2024; Mullins et al., 2024). Despite facing adversity at every stage of migration, Latinx/e individuals and families in the United States demonstrate strength and resilience. Many parents focus on their reasons for migration to the United States, with many mothers identifying that drive as, “por mis hijos” (“for my children”) (Alvarez-Frank et al., 2025, p. 8), this is another example of familismo. Whereas Latinx/e families are resilient in the face of adversity, they continue to face cultural and systemic barriers that prevent them from access to both traditional and digital mental health care.

Part of the difficulty experienced in receiving mental health care for Latinx/e individuals in families comes from discrimination and disenfranchisement. Discrimination persists in mental health care, reinforcing both cultural and systemic barriers to mental health care services both for traditional and digital access for Latinx/e individuals and families. Although mental health disorders are diagnosed similarly across racial and ethnic groups, there are significant disparities in both access to and quality of mental health care for populations historically marginalized and underserved, especially for Latinx/e immigrants (Cook et al., 2017; Pérez-Flores et al., 2025). Further, there are generational differences in both attitudes regarding mental health care and utilization of services. First-generation Latinx/e immigrants are less likely than second- and third-generation immigrants to seek mental health care (Escobar-Galvez et al., 2023), and when they do seek care, Latinx/e immigrants are likely to receive services of lower quality than U.S.-born Latinx/e Americans (Pérez-Flores et al., 2025). Many providers lack cultural and linguistic competence to ethically and effectively serve Latinx/e individuals and families (Pérez-Flores et al., 2025). Barriers to mental health care are upheld by structural barriers to education and employment, which affect the autonomy and agency of Latinx/e individuals to secure jobs with reasonable hours and pay (Arellanes et al., 2023), as well as jobs that provide health insurance, which further limits access to mental health care (Pérez-Flores et al., 2025). Many Latinx/e individuals secure multiple jobs to make up for lower salaries, which further limits time available to explore and utilize mental health care (Pérez-Flores et al., 2025). Given the multitude of converging limiting factors for access to mental health care services, digital mental health services have emerged as a potential alternative to traditional services. Although there is no gold standard of digital mental health care services (Jiménez-Molina et al., 2019), with more research, digital mental health services can be adapted to be more culturally responsive and ethical to effectively serve Latinx/e individuals and families.

Telehealth and other digital mental health tools offer a solution to overcome many barriers to accessing services, with families experiencing significant benefits (Lipschitz et al., 2023) and strong evidence of comparable outcomes to in-person services (Kneeland et al., 2021). The COVID-19 pandemic served as the impetus for many providers and agencies to increase accessibility and overcome disruptions to mental health services (Kneeland et al., 2021). The increased use of telemental health and increased integration of digital tools in counseling has helped the continued removal of barriers to access that existed prior to COVID-19 (Lipschitz et al., 2023). Providers have also noticed many benefits of using telemental health, from increased utilization and participation in services, to improved therapeutic processes, and even provider well-being (Lipschitz et al., 2023). Telemental health care is an example of adapting and improving existing mental health services to meet the needs of clients, a process that has continued and improved since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Latinx/e individuals and families face structural and contextual barriers to traditional mental health care, especially first-generation immigrants and families, and individuals with limited English proficiency. The COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented historical event that necessitated creative adaptations to provide services to people who most need care (Lipschitz et al., 2023). This also demonstrated that existing mental health care modalities and tools could be more responsive to extenuating circumstances (Jiménez-Molina et al., 2019). Technology-enhanced mental health care is inherently culturally responsive, as it identifies specific unmet needs of individuals and families and strives to meet those needs in meaningful ways. This paper presents unique interventions that center the lived experiences of Latinx/e American individuals and families. Further, technology and mental health care services are integrated, adapting existing therapeutic tools, promoting family cohesion and connection, grounded in cultural awareness and responsiveness that honors Latinx/e cultural and familial values.

Literature Review

Conceptual Foundations

Mental Health Disparities and Service Underutilization

Across the lifespan, Latinx/e individuals experience elevated mental health challenges. For instance, children of Latinx/e immigrants report higher depression scores compared to children of nonimmigrant parents (Kim et al., 2018), while third-generation Latinx/e adolescents are more likely to experience mood and anxiety disorders than their White peers (Georgiades et al., 2018). These disparities extend into adulthood and were particularly exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Latinx/e adults reported much worse mental health outcomes compared to White adults. The combination of discrimination, deportation fears, family separation, and disproportionate risks of infection and mortality amplified distress in already vulnerable communities (Thomeer et al., 2023). Such findings underscore the compounded impact of systemic inequities and sociopolitical conditions on Latinx/e mental health.

Despite these elevated needs, Latinx/e populations consistently underutilize formal mental health services. First-generation Latinx/e adolescents and adults are less likely to access care compared to later generations and compared to the U.S.-born Latinx/e (Escobar-Galvez et al., 2023; Georgiades et al., 2018). Even among those with psychiatric diagnoses, Latinx/e immigrants demonstrate lower service use, with undocumented immigrants accessing services at the lowest rates (Derr, 2016). Service utilization is shaped by multiple predictors. Older age, health insurance, and both self and externally perceived need increase the likelihood of engagement, while younger age, lack of insurance, and reduced family support are linked to higher dropout rates (Chang & Biegel, 2018). These patterns suggest that structural barriers intersect with developmental and family contexts to reduce continuity of care.

A range of barriers has been identified to explain these service gaps. Latinx/e families are more likely to encounter systemic obstacles such as limited insurance coverage, high costs, language barriers, and reduced availability of culturally responsive resources (Cook et al., 2017; Derr, 2016; Pro et al., 2022). Fear of deportation and distrust in public systems further discourage low-income immigrant families from seeking assistance (Rodriguez & Smith, 2020). Cultural values also play a significant role. Familismo, for example, often directs families to rely on internal support rather than external providers (Rastogi et al., 2012), while traditional gender roles and familial obligations may limit help-seeking among youth (Rodriguez & Smith, 2020). Many Latinx/e turn instead to informal networks such as religious leaders, family, and friends, whom they perceive as more accessible and trustworthy (Derr, 2016; Villatoro et al., 2016). Compounding these issues, perceived need for treatment is less common among Latinx/e, particularly among Spanish-speaking individuals (Breslau et al., 2017).

The process of acculturation further influences mental health outcomes and service engagement. Immigrant parents and children experience heightened psychological distress associated with acculturative stress, parenting demands, and family conflict (Lozano et al., 2024). Parenting stress, in particular, has been linked to greater psychological distress and substance use among immigrant parents. Over time, acculturative pressures erode family cohesion and diminish the protective effects of cultural values such as familismo, leaving families more vulnerable to poor outcomes. Intergenerational acculturation gaps between parents and children often intensify family conflict and stress, signaling the need for family-based approaches to care (Lozano et al., 2024).

Expanding access to affordable, Spanish-language services and reducing systemic barriers remain critical priorities (Pro et al., 2022). At the same time, prevention and intervention strategies that build upon cultural strengths, such as familismo, community involvement, and faith-based support, may improve service utilization and outcomes. Strengthening family relationships and addressing parenting stress through tailored programs have been identified as particularly promising directions (Lozano et al., 2024; Rodriguez & Smith, 2020). By centering both systemic inequities and cultural values, mental health services can more effectively meet the needs of Latinx/e families while reducing longstanding disparities.

Cultural Values and Intersecting Identities

Culturally, Latinx/e families experience their lives through a socially distinct lens that warrants the understanding from counselors who work with this population (Falicov, 2014, Chapter 1). While, it is difficult to completely identify all the possible intersecting identities that a Latinx/e family might have, identities related to familismo, personalismo, respect, acculturation, and immigration status can be especially relevant when considering the integration of technology within the modality of family counseling.

Familismo relates to the centering of the nuclear and extended family within the Latinx/e population that often leads to familial decision-making and ultimately pushes the narrative of familial cohesion (Diaz et al., 2017; Tibiriçá, 2022). As counselors begin to integrate the use of technology within their counseling session they must be sensitive to the buy-in from the entire family system and treat the decision-making process for technology integration as something that benefits and is adhered to by the collective and not just the individual. While familismo deals with closeness within a family system, personalismo is defined by the preference that the Latinx/e population has toward interpersonal relationships based on trust which can extend outside the family system (Ortiz, 2020). With reference to the therapeutic relationship, this can serve many purposes such as the family being more willing to engage in cooperativeness with the counselor, as they want to engage in the creation of a meaningful relationship. Additionally, the integration of technology in treatment might be seen as counterintuitive to the family, for they might see technology as a barrier to engage in the cultural value or personalismo. The counselor would benefit from potential psychoeducation with the family to ensure that they feel comfortable with the integration of technology into their treatment and are able to adapt the technology to ensure that familismo and personalismo are at the forefront of treatment.

Furthermore, respect or respeto is a pillar of relationship building within the Latinx/e population that emphasizes treating others, especially the elderly, with pleasantness even when faced in distressful situations or while holding negative emotions (Bekteshi & Kang, 2020; Falicov, 2014). This might present itself as the family not wanting to engage in the use of technology due to the fear of embarrassment that might be caused to a family member that is not well-versed in the use of technology. It might also appear in the form of the family not wanting to disagree or dispute an idea that might be presented to the counselor as the counselor might be seen as an authority figure within the system.

Additionally counselors working with this population will encounter issues that pertain to immigration and acculturation and while those concepts are typically defined in tandem with each other, for the purposes of this article they will be explored a bit further on their own. Migration is a multidimensional and emotionally taxing experience, especially for Latinx/e families who undergo permanent relocation. Although immigration is not defined as a trauma category in the DSM-5 (APA, 2013), research and clinical observation highlight the profound and psychological toll embedded within the phases of premigration, migration, and postmigration phases (Cleary et al., 2018; Perreira & Ornelas, 2011). Premigration stressors may involve exposure to violence or economic instability, while migration itself may include physical danger, exploitation, or family separation (Falicov, 2014; Kyle & Koslowski, 2011). Postmigration challenges, such as discrimination, documentation issues, and language barriers, often compound earlier stress (Cleaveland & Frankenfeld, 2019). These cumulative stressors affect the family system's functioning and can interrupt intergenerational cohesion, making culturally sensitive, trauma-informed counseling a critical need for Latinx/e families.

Similarly, acculturation is a completed and nonlinear process involving the negotiation of values, customs, and behaviors between the culture of origin and the dominant society. For Latinx/e families this often included ongoing decisions about what to retain, what to modify, and what to discard (Schwartz et al., 2015). Individuals may experience assimilation, separation, marginalization, or integration (Lemzoudi, 2007), with each path bearing implications for mental health and identity development. Assimilation, often mischaracterized as a marker of success, can lead to cultural disconnection, social isolation, and diminished protective factors—particularly among youth. Research suggests that second-generation Latinx/e adolescents, who may feel caught between cultural worlds, are at greater risk for mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression, especially in communities with limited Latinx/e representation (Perreira et al., 2019; Wadsworth & Kubrin, 2007). Technology-enhanced counseling approaches offer an opportunity to support clients in culturally sustaining ways: fostering connection, validating identity, and resisting the narrative that full assimilation is the only path to belonging.

Mainstream Digital Mental Health Tools

Historically, online media such as social media and use of apps has provided an opportunity to challenge the top-down approach of conventional media such as television and newspapers which has led to a digital revolution (Kramp, 2015; Salaudeen & Onyechi, 2020). For counselors, this is especially important as the integration of digital mental health tools might be normalized within society as an accessible way for individuals to receive short-term relief from mental health concerns. Furthermore, social media can be seen as a gateway of information regarding mental health concerns and potentially provides integral psychoeducation to people about various mental health disorders and coping techniques (Naslund et al., 2020). Despite this information, it is important to note that there is no current gold standard or uniformity in the creation and implementation of digital mental health tools (Balcombe & De Leo, 2022; Inal et al., 2020), often leading to questions regarding their effectiveness. Unfortunately at this time, because of the lack of homogeneity, it is difficult to quantify the effectiveness of digital mental health tools thus creating a gap in research.

To further expand on this issue, Jankovic and colleagues (2021), engaged in a study where they searched for the economic significance of engaging in digital mental health tools on their own as opposed to a hybrid model of mental health care and found inconclusive results. These results indicate that there is no reliable data that would showcase the effectiveness of digital mental health tools on their own as opposed to the integration of digital mental health tools for a person who is already in mental health treatment. In the face of these challenges, current research does indicate that there might be a positive effect of the integration of digital mental health tools for individuals within mental health treatment. Furthermore, current research indicates that the use of digital mental health tools can lead to an increased collaboration between health care professionals, as it can create a common language being used and strengthen the quality of evaluations and interventions for individuals receiving mental health treatment (Inal et al., 2020; Moock, 2014). Additionally, Balcombe and De Leo (2022) and Jankovic et al. (2021) synthesized that the engagement of digital mental health tools within therapeutic treatment can have a positive impact on resilience. While the current literature has various gaps related to overall effectiveness of digital mental health tools on their own, there is some traction for the positive effectiveness of digital mental health tools within therapeutic treatment.

Integrating Technology in Treatment

As previously mentioned, there has been a digital revolution that has led to the integration of digital tools within mental health treatment (Inal et al., 2020; Kramp, 2015; Moock, 2014; Salaudeen & Onyechi, 2020). The purpose of these activities is to help counselors deepen the therapeutic work that is done by Latinx/e families engaging in counseling. While these activities are not all encompassing, the hope is that they can inspire counselors working with this population to feel empowered to engage in the integration of using technology when working with this population.

Therapeutic Coordination Tools

Push Notifications

Incorporating digital tools like push notifications into family therapy provides opportunities to reinforce therapeutic goals beyond the counseling session. Push notifications can be used for a variety of purposes, including reminders, prompts, and motivational messages to sustain family engagement. For example, appointment reminders can help families manage busy schedules and reduce the likelihood of missed sessions. If homework is assigned, such as practicing communications skills and completing a shared task, push notifications can provide timely cues to encourage follow-through. For instance, if family members were assigned different roles in preparing a family meal, push notifications can remind each family member of their contribution and prompt them to check in with one another about progress. Push notifications can also be utilized as conversation starters, encouraging families to practice communication strategies, engage in scheduled family check-ins, or reflect on the progress they have made toward their family goals. These reminders can help maintain accountability in between sessions while reducing reliance on memory or motivation alone.

Push notifications can be tailored to respect cultural values and family dynamics central to Latinx/e families. Values such as familismo and respeto can guide the framing of notifications so that they emphasize collective responsibility rather than individual obligation. For example, rather than sending a generic reminder to complete a task, the reminder can say “Let's all check in on how we worked as a team today” to highlight how completing the responsibility strengthens family unity. Further, reminders can be written in a way that honors parental authority and respects generational dynamics to ensure that prompts feel supportive rather than intrusive. Counselors can also send encouraging messages that recognize family resilience to reinforce motivation while validating cultural identities. Beyond therapy-related tasks, families can also integrate push notifications into daily life, such as reminders about their children's school events or community gatherings, to further strengthen family cohesion.

Communication Enhancement

Family Group Chats

Another existing and underutilized phone feature that can be utilized in family sessions is the use of family group chats on mobile devices. Family group chats provide a structured yet flexible means of sustaining and strengthening communication among family members, even when geographical distance or conflicting schedules limit in-person interaction. Within a therapeutic context, family group chats can serve multiple functions, such as providing daily check-ins about routines or emotional well-being, coordinating family activities (e.g., shared meals, gatherings, or celebrations), and providing a collaborative space for follow-ups on counseling goals between sessions. Group chats availability to use text, audio, or video messages allow for flexible and accessible communication that accommodates diverse preferences and generational differences within the family system. This is helpful for children of teens who are more willing to engage and express themselves through text messages, emojis, or voice notes.

Integrating family group chats aligns closely with Latinx/e values such as familismo and personalismo. Familismo is directly reinforced when family members maintain frequent, meaningful contact such as sharing updates, offering encouragement, or coordinating collective decisions in the chat. Family group chats can support personalismo by allowing for ongoing expressions of care and affections that strengthen family relational bonds outside of session. Family group chats can also support the collectivistic nature common among Latinx/e families in which decision-making and emotional processing are often shared responsibilities rather than an individual task. For example, a family might use the group chat to discuss strategies to support a family member, celebrate a family member's achievements, or coordinate caregiving responsibilities. Using a family group chat for these purposes can reinforce a sense of unity and shared responsibility for the family's well-being. If integrating family group chats, counselors should help families establish boundaries around chat use such as clarifying what type of communication is appropriate to share in a group setting versus what might be better addressed individually. Counselors should also discuss with the family the potential for misinterpretation when using text messages, such as tone and intent.

Video Calls Across Borders

Family counselors can also introduce video-based group chats as a therapeutic tool to help families maintain their communication and connection with each other when they live apart. Video platforms such as WhatsApp, Zoom, or FaceTime allow both nuclear and extended family members to engage with each other in real time despite living in different cities, states, and/or countries. This tool is particularly valuable for immigrant and transnational families as it helps preserve emotional bonds and cultural identity across generations. For example, families can organize virtual gatherings to celebrate birthdays, graduations, or religious holidays. Families can also utilize video group chats to share meals while cooking traditional dishes together or host online game nights. These experiences can foster a sense of belonging and reinforce a family's cultural and emotional ties to their heritage and country of origin. For parents who are coparenting across borders, video group chats can be utilized to maintain shared parenting by having the parent working abroad virtually read bedtime stories or virtually attend their child's school event. Beyond social connection, video group chats can also serve multiple therapeutic functions that promote relational bonds. Family counselors can encourage families to hold brief video sessions dedicated to emotion-focused check-ins. During which families can share with each other one high and one low from the week, practice reflective listening, or offer mutual words of encouragement.

The use of video group chats aligns well with familismo as families are able to maintain consistent visual contact with each other to share affection, humor, and everyday experiences in ways that verbal or text communication does not. Video group chats can also promote cultural pride and intergenerational learning as elders can share family stories, cultural traditions, or recipes to younger generations. If introducing video group chats as a therapeutic tool, counselors should assess the family member's technological access and literacy. Disparities in internet connectivity or digital skills can be barriers particularly for older family members or those who live in rural areas. Family counselors should also help families establish clear expectations for virtual gatherings like establishing frequency, duration, and purpose to prevent issues such as digital fatigue or perceived obligation to participate.

Cultural Preservation

Playlists

Creating a playlist can endorse cultural preservation, emotional expression, and intergenerational connection through the cocreation of a family playlist. Music offers an opportunity for family members to engage in intergenerational connection via music and storytelling with the ultimate goal of increasing family cohesion. The counselor invites the family to collaboratively create a shared digital playlist, using platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube with each family member being asked to contribute an equal amount of songs that are meaningful to them. These songs may include childhood favorites, songs from their country of origin, music that evokes specific emotions, or songs that represent important memories. Families are encouraged to listen to a playlist to and from counseling sessions or during designated family times. During the counseling session, the family counselor can deepen emotional processing by providing guiding questions such as: What made you choose this song? Does this song remind you of a specific time and place? What emotion do you associate with this song?

This activity affirms the values of familismo and collective story telling by encouraging opportunities for cultural dialogue between older and younger members of the family which can lead to bridging linguistic or generational divides. Counselors should remain sensitive to hesitance around music sharing, particularly if generational or language differences exist, and should normalize all contributions in a judgment-free environment. Technological barriers, including limited internet access or unfamiliarity with digital platforms, may be addressed by using written lists or empowering tech-savvy family members to assist others. Counselors may also invite families to explain the meaning of songs in their preferred language, connect music to their migration journey, or use the playlist as background music during therapeutic tasks. This activity functions both as a cultural connector and transitional object, enhancing continuity between sessions and reinforcing shared meaning within the family system.

TV Shows from the Country of Origin

Similarly to the creation of a family playlist, this activity is designed to strengthen intergenerational connection, communication, and cultural preservation via the intentional use of media. Rather than approaching media as passive entertainment, the counselor will encourage the family to watch shows or movies together with therapeutic goals in mind. The counselor can invite the family to select a program collaboratively, engaging them in problem-solving as they decide what to watch and help them identify the barriers such as times, access to the desired show or movie, or competing preferences. Once chosen, the family will be encouraged to watch the chosen program between sessions and return to reflect on the experience. To deepen the conversation, the counselor may offer guiding prompts such as: “What part of the story stood out to you most?” or “If you could step into the role of one character, who would you choose and why?” Families may also be encouraged to select shows or movies from a parent's or grandparent's childhood, particularly remade or remastered programs, as a way to create an opportunity for the family to engage in family story-telling where older family members may share familial history or earlier life experiences.

Engaging in media together in this structured and reflective way affirms culture values such as familismo by emphasizing shared experiences, respeto through honoring elders’ memories and voices, and personalismo by prompting warm shared experiences. Counselors should remain attentive to possible challenges, including disagreement over what to watch, limited access, or presence of harmful stereotypes within the media. In these cases, guidance from the counselor can help the family engage in the counseling skills the family has gained through treatment in order to maintain the integrity of the relational benefits of the activity. Families might choose to expand on the experience by creating discussion questions on their own, watching content in English and Spanish, or developing a ritual such as a weekly “family movie night.” Through intentional engagement, television and movies serve not only as entertainment but as a vehicle for cultural preservation, storytelling, and strengthened family cohesion.

Play and Connection

Collaborative Video Gaming

This activity is designed to strengthen family connection and communication by inviting parents to join their children in playing video games collaboratively. Research indicates that video games are a highly prevalent leisure activity, with nearly all homes with children owning some form of gaming platform (Entertainment Software Association, 2017), and youth reporting an average of several hours of gameplay per week (Halbrook et al., 2019). Children often identify fun, competition, and social interaction as their primary motivations for gaming (Zhu, 2020). Within counseling, video games have increasingly been recognized as a tool for fostering empathy, relaxation, perspective-taking, and prosocial behavior (Halbrook et al., 2019; Kato, 2010). For families who may already experience conflict around technology use, this activity reframes gaming as an opportunity for parents to step into their child's world and engage in play together. Counselors can invite families to select a cooperative game, such as Overcooked, Mario Kart, or Roblox, and establish agreed-upon limits for the session (e.g., 30–45 min of gameplay). Guiding questions can then help families process the experience, such as: “What did it feel like to rely on your family member as a teammate?” or “How could you use the communication skills you practiced here at home?”

Engaging in collaborative video gaming can affirm the cultural values of familismo through collective play, respeto by inviting parents to enter their children's digital space with openness, and personalismo by creating warm, relational exchanges that emphasize collaboration over competition. Counselors should remain mindful of clinical considerations, such as monitoring for excessive screen time, being alert to the potential for gaming disorder, and addressing parental concerns about violence or escapism in certain games (Ayenigbara, 2018; Colder Carras et al., 2018). Therapeutic use of video games requires sensitivity to socioeconomic access, as not all families can afford gaming consoles or internet-enabled systems. Alternatives may include using free mobile games or encouraging storytelling about a child's favorite game when live play is not possible. Optional variations include playing games together in the counseling office when technology is available, encouraging children to “teach” their parents how to play to promote empowerment, or connecting the lessons of teamwork and emotional regulation in-game to real-life family dynamics. When facilitated intentionally, collaborative video gaming functions not only as recreation but as a culturally attuned intervention that promotes connection, communication, and shared resilience within Latinx/e families.

Question Card Decks

This activity is another way for families to strengthen their connection and communication by having structured conversations in which family members take turns answering prompts from a question card deck. There are different types of question card decks that can be purchased, such as Preguntas and Parents are Humans, both of which provide bilingual English and Spanish translations. These tools can be introduced in counseling sessions to facilitate dialogue or be assigned as between-session activities to encourage continued reflection and engagement at home. While Preguntas is currently available only as a physical card deck, Parents are Human offers a digital version of the card deck that can help enhance accessibility and enable families to engage in conversations conveniently across various settings. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for families managing complex schedules or seeking to incorporate therapeutic conversations in their everyday routines.

Sample prompts from Parents are Human include “Take turns sharing three things you are grateful for,” “What do you wish I understood about you?” “Who was the most influential person you have ever had?” and “What is one fear you would like to conquer?” These prompts invite vulnerability, encourage perspective-taking, and cultivate empathy. The prompts also provide opportunities for families to practice active listening and emotional validation, therefore strengthening trust and promoting more authentic communication. Importantly, this activity helps emphasize familismo by prioritizing conversations that touch on shared experiences and collective reflection. Personalismo is also emphasized through intentional conversation that allows family members to express their inner thoughts and emotions. The bilingual availability of these resources affirms and validates linguistic diversity and strengthens cultural identity and reduces potential barriers for engagement. Counselors should remain aware of potential generation or acculturation-related differences in communication preference and provide guidance to ensure all members feel empowered to facilitate. The goal is to foster inclusion rather than reinforce existing power dynamics.

Virtual Tours

Virtual tours can be designed to foster cultural preservation, intergenerational connection, and cultural pride within Latinx/e families by providing opportunities to virtually explore places of significance. Many families are unable to travel to their country of origin due to financial limitations, immigration status, or time constraints (Ayón et al., 2018). Virtual tools such as Google Maps, Youtube, or virtual reality (VR) platforms allow families to “visit” meaningful locations together, creating a shared experience that nurtures storytelling and family bonding. The counselor can invite families to select a place of importance, such as the parents’ hometown or a location they dream of visiting and engage in virtual exploration as a family. Families may choose to walk digitally though familiar neighborhoods using Google Maps, watch virtual tours through cities they want to explore on Youtube, or experience a more immersive VR tour through devices such as Meta Quest, PlayStation VR, or Apple Vision Pro.

Using this activity can help the family affirm cultural values central to Latinx/e families including familismo and personalismo due to the warm and meaningful exchanges that can occur during the shared joint attention experienced by the family. Counselors can invite elders to share stories tied to the places explored, giving children and adolescents an opportunity to learn about their family history and cultural heritage. Guiding questions such as, “What memories do you hold about this place?” or “What traditions does this place remind you of?” can spark narratives that strengthen family identity and foster respect across generations. Virtual tours can also open space for bicultural and bilingual dialogue by allowing family members to move between languages and cultural perspectives while sharing dreams of travel or collective aspirations for the future. Guiding questions such as, “If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you like to go?” or “What would it mean to you to be able to visit this location?” might open opportunities for the family to strengthen family understanding and cohesion as they explore the emotionality related to traveling.

As counselors explore virtual tours, they should remain mindful of potential barriers, such as the cost of VR devices or limited internet access, and should present lower-cost alternatives when needed (e.g., printed Google Maps street view images or an atlas). Counselors can also encourage tech-savvy family members to take leadership roles in guiding others through the activity. By doing so, this not only engages participation but also reinforces agency within the family system. Through family engagement in virtual tours, families can honor their heritage, build bridges between generations, and sustain cultural transitions in creative ways. This intervention functions as both a cultural connector and an imaginative tool for dreaming together about places of significance, ultimately reinforcing cultural values and strengthening family cohesion.

Case Study

A Latinx/e immigrant mother and her teenage daughter sought family counseling at a nonprofit clinical mental health agency after experiencing ongoing conflict and emotional distance following their migration to the United States. The mother described their relationship prior to migration as warm and affectionate but shared that it had become increasingly strained since resettling. The daughter expressed feeling disconnected from her mother, stating that she struggled to trust her and often avoided conversation. Recognizing the impact of acculturation stress and generational differences, the family counselor introduced the Playlist activity as a means of fostering communication, emotional expression, and cultural reconnection within the family system.

The family counselor invited the pair to cocreate a shared playlist, asking each to contribute an equal number of meaningful songs. Together they established guidelines of nonjudgment and mutual respect, agreeing to listen to the playlist during their drives to and from counseling sessions. During follow-up sessions, both mother and daughter reflected on the experience of hearing one another's musical choices and discovered overlapping preferences that prompted surprise and curiosity. They began discussing memories associated with certain songs, including those from their country of origin, and expressed enjoyment in identifying shared artists and genres. Over time, the playlist evolved into a transitional object that symbolized connection beyond the counseling space.

As treatment progressed, the family's engagement with music extended beyond sessions, eventually leading them to attend a live concert by one of the artists featured on their playlist. This shared experience became a meaningful milestone in their relationship, representing a renewed sense of closeness and collaboration. The mother and daughter later described concert attendance as a new family tradition and a reminder of how small, intentional practices could rebuild trust and warmth in their relationship. The Playlist intervention served as both a culturally responsive and developmentally appropriate method of enhancing family cohesion, illustrating the potential for technology-integrated approaches to strengthen relational bonds among Latinx/e families navigating acculturative change.

Implications and Future Recommendations

Implications

The integration of technology into family counseling with Latinx/e families requires a culturally responsive grounded approach. The goal when integrating technology is to enhance the core values that shape Latinx/e family dynamics. A thoughtful integration process includes understanding access, building comfort and inclusivity, and aligning tools with cultural values that support therapeutic outcomes. Before selecting any digital interventions, counselors should assess what technology resources the family has available. This includes determining whether they have reliable internet connectivity, adequate devices, and sufficient smartphone data plans. Limited access can create unintended barriers for engagement and may require creative alternatives from the counselor such as printed materials or hybrid approaches that reduce technological burden.

In addition to access to technology, a family's technology literacy must also be assessed. Technology literacy varies widely across generations and family members. Counselors should assess comfort levels and provide psychoeducation to support family members who may feel intimidated or fear being judged for not understanding digital tools. Normalizing learning curves and reducing stigma around “not knowing” helps cultivate a safe learning environment. When appropriate, counselors can empower tech-savvy family members to serve as guides. This could reinforce familismo through mutual support.

Digital interventions must also be accessible across diverse languages and reading levels. Bilingual resources, audio or visual components, and simplified instructions can help ensure inclusivity and approachability. Such adaptations affirm cultural identity, respects linguistic diversity, and supports equitable participation among all family members. Ensuring accessibility also strengthens engagement by demonstrating cultural humility and attunement to the family's lived experiences. Generational differences influence not only comfort with technology but also preferred modes of communication. Younger family members might gravitate toward messaging apps or video platforms while older adults may prefer phone calls or in-person conversations. These differences can create tension if not explored. Counselors can help families navigate these decisions collaboratively by grounding discussions in cultural values such as familismo, personalismo, and respeto. Framing technology as a tool that supports these cultural values helps maintain cohesion and promotes buy-in from all generations.

Limitations and Future Recommendations

Given the conceptual nature of this manuscript, several limitations must be acknowledged, including the absence of empirical evaluation for the interventions proposed. Future counselor researchers are encouraged to integrate these activities into their work with Latinx/e families and to employ standardized assessments or mixed-method approaches to evaluate their effectiveness. Additionally, counselors should exercise caution when applying these interventions, recognizing that Latinx/e families are diverse and cannot be viewed as a homogeneous group (Falicov, 2014). Each family's unique cultural values, migration history, and lived experiences will shape how these activities are received and implemented. Continued research is needed to examine how technology-integrated interventions function across varied Latinx/e subgroups and family structures. Moreover, the field would benefit from the inclusion of bilingual and bicultural researchers who can lead culturally grounded empirical studies that honor linguistic diversity and contextual nuance. Although these recommendations do not eliminate the inherent limitations of conceptual work, they represent meaningful steps toward developing and validating culturally responsive, evidence-informed practices that strengthen counseling with Latinx/e families.

Conclusion

This article highlights the advantages of integrating technology into family counseling treatment with the Latinx/e population. While empirical research within this specialty area remains limited, this conceptual framework offers family counselors a structured approach to thoughtfully incorporating technology into existing treatment modalities. By organizing technology-based interventions into the categories of Therapeutic Coordination Tools, Communication Enhancement, and Cultural Preservation, this article demonstrates how digital tools can be leveraged to support relational connection, emotional expression, and shared meaning-making within the family system.

Importantly, the integration of technology is not positioned as a replacement for relationally grounded family counseling but rather as an extension of culturally responsive practice that reflects the lived realities of many Latinx/e families. When implemented with intentionality, flexibility, and cultural humility, technology can serve as a bridge across generations. Family counselors are encouraged to remain mindful of within-group diversity and to collaboratively tailor these interventions to each family's unique strengths and needs. As the field continues to evolve, future research examining the effectiveness of technology-integrated family interventions with Latinx/e populations will be essential. Until then, this framework offers a practical and culturally grounded starting point for enhancing family counseling practice in an increasingly digital world.