Are All Families Dysfunctional?
A couple of months ago, I gave a presentation on how to support clients from traumatic families at a conference. Inevitably, a hand shot up from the back of the room: “But aren’t all families dysfunctional?” the participant asked.
I get this question a lot. So often, that I incorporate it into most of my presentations or trainings.
Many of my clients will also ask something similar: “I thought every family was like this?”
To that, I always say “yes and no.”
All families, like all social systems, will have some degree of dysfunction, as none of us is perfect. But, whether the dysfunction extends to traumatic or abusive levels depends on many different factors, mostly on the extent of the behaviors, as well as the amount, if any, of awareness and accountability of those in power.
I will never tell someone how to feel or categorize their experiences of their family history. However, I understand that........
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