A family is a group of two or people related by marriage, birth, or adoption/foster/step- that are in a relationship with one another. This usually entails at least one adult and at least one child. A traditional view of a family is of two parents and their children; often referred to as a nuclear family. As with many things, however, this is too general. Families may be blended; where one or both parents bring children from a previous relationship. Families may contain only one parent, with the other parent missing by death or distance. Finally, families may contain older generations that live with, or are intimately entwined with the parents and children. Stressors that arise within families can be incredibly complex and may include different parenting styles, children’s grief around a missing parent, or extreme behaviors.
I approach families from a systemic viewpoint…seeing the family as my client, not any individual. This allows me to identify disruptive patterns within the family unit and to teach healthier ways to interact with each other.