Dysfunctional Families Objective: TSWBAT identify factors of dysfunctional families and how to improve their relationships.

Review of Terms Ideal Family –  Has the skills needed for loving & responsible relationships Dysfunctional Family –  Lacks skills to be successful and functional in healthy ways  Does not meet the needs of the family members Family Continuum –  All families fall somewhere between ideal and dysfunctional on the family continuum

Causes of Dysfunctional Families: Chemical Dependence  Drugs and alcohol addiction  Dysfunctional family was first studied in families in which there was alcoholism Other Addictions  Eating disorders, workaholics, gambling, etc. Violence (Domestic violence)  Physical abuse  Emotional abuse (verbal abuse)  Sexual abuse

Causes con’t Neglect/Abandonment  Failure to provide proper care and guidance  Removes oneself from whose care is one’s responsibility Mental Disorders  Mental or emotional condition that makes it difficult for a person to live in a normal way Family Changes o Separation, divorce, blended/step families, tragedies, stress, etc.

How to improve dysfunctional family relationships: 1.Individual Therapy 2.Group Therapy 3.Recovery Programs The Three C’s: Commitment Communication Compromise (Cooperation)

Codependent Relationships Codependency – making the relationship more important to you than you are to yourself Trying to make the relationship work with someone else who’s not Behaviors of codependent people: Low self esteem Fixers People pleasers Fear abandonment