Families can operate in ways that cause one or more family members to bear an unfair amount of the burden of a family that is dysfunctional.
Dysfunctional Family- Families can operate in ways that cause one or more family members to bear an unfair amount of the burden of a family that is dysfunctional. A dysfunctional family is one in which conflict and instability are common. Parents might abuse or neglect their children, and other family members are often forced to accommodate and enable negative behavior. In some cases, dysfunctional families can be the result of addiction, codependency, or untreated mental illness ( Kings University).
When is a family referred to as dysfunctional- No family is perfect, but it’s important to note that an argument or accidental insult does not qualify as dysfunction. In fact, dysfunction may only become evident when adverse behaviors make it difficult for individual family members to function, thrive, and grow as human beings. While the term “dysfunctional family” might be used flippantly in popular culture, growing up in a toxic environment can have a lasting impact as children transition into adulthood (Kings University).
Families are not immune to conflict and transitions- Families can be impacted by one or more family members who are experiencing individual struggles that the family does not understand, and to which they don’t know how to respond. At the same time, families can operate in ways that cause one or more family members to bear an unfair amount of the burden of a family that is dysfunctional. Some of the common indicators of a dysfunctional family dynamic include poor /disjointed communication, drug or alcohol abuse, perfectionism, lack of empathy, control/ lack of privacy, and excessive criticism. Any change in an individual affects both the individual and the family system.
The role of family therapist- Many concerns can be addressed through family therapy including grief & loss, life adjustments, behavioral or school issues, conflict resolution, communication, and management of mental and physical illness. Not all members of the family attend each session. You can expect to learn more about yourself, how your family functions, and how to use your family’s strengths to better handle problems and change behaviors.
Share with Counsellor Agency has a team of psychologists and family therapists, to address some of the common issues associated with dysfunctional families at the source; helping their clients to overcome issues and any resulting trauma at the individual and/or family level. Sometimes the symptoms are not evident in the entire family but one member presenting with normal challenges could tag the entire family to his or her challenges. Share with a Counsellor Mobile Phone App, provides every individual with an opportunity to access a counsellor at their comfort and address emerging trends caused by dysfunctionality in the family of orign. No more blame games, they spoil trust and relationship that are important in the healing process of the family. At share, we care.
