“Before my parents moved to the U.S., my mom had lived with my dad’s parents for a few months while my dad found a job in the U.S.,” explains Kalpana, 27. “When... Read more »
If you are here as an adult child who has reduced contact or gone no-contact with a parent or family member, I fully appreciate that people do not make these decisions lightly.... Read more »
I am the product of a mixed marriage. On my English side, I know much about my family antecedents; on the Zoroastrian side, very little. Only now, through taking a course on... Read more »
With increasing life and social demands on children, teenagers, and college students, stress, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, addiction, and other serious mental health challenges continue to rise. Frequently, individual therapy and parent... Read more »
Family rituals are routines and traditions that honor what is very important to the family (Rothenbuhler, 1998). Rituals include family traditions, such as the specific ways we celebrate holidays, birthdays, vacations, weddings,... Read more »
Family estrangement has been framed in major media outlets as everything from a “growing trend” to a “social epidemic.” But this framing reveals a deep cultural bias: When the act of estrangement... Read more »
Every year at about this time I see some patients who are filled with anxiety at the thought of going home to family for the holidays. While, for some, Thanksgiving sparks memories... Read more »
Before turning to the Three Wisest Men, this post continues my ongoing exploration of how Hallmark films illuminate real psychology concepts in family dynamics. In earlier posts, I’ve shown how holiday movies—though... Read more »
Why would a qualified, ethical therapist support their client’s decision to estrange from their family? Aren’t families sacred relationships that must be preserved at all costs? Not always. In fact, family estrangement... Read more »
Imagine a teenager watching their dad pace the kitchen after a layoff. The stress lingers in the air, silent but heavy. Years later, that young adult may still carry echoes of this... Read more »