One's family of origin--the family one grew up in, as opposed to the people one currently lives with--is the place that people typically learn to become who they are. From the family of origin, a person learns how to communicate, process emotions and get our needs met. The relationship we watched growing up can have a profound impact on how we structure our life and our current relationships. Understanding the impact of our family of origin is essential in any psychotherapy, whether it is individual or couples work. Sometimes it is helpful to invite family members to participate in a limited number of sessions where a therapist can mediate and facilitate an opportunity for better understanding and communication.
Issues that can be addressed in a family session include:
Emotional and physical Abuse
High family conflict
Co-dependency issues
Childhood divorce
Addiction
Need for perfection
Communication problems
Aging issues
Family sessions can yield an opportunity for:
Increased understanding of oneself and family members
Reduction in family conflict
Healing of past hurts
Awareness of how one wants to do things differently from one’s family of origin