The Twelfth Episode: Family of Origin

The Notorious MFT

Our families of origin (our parents and siblings) are understood to lay the foundation for our cognitive, affective, and emotional development. Families are the very first group to which we belong, they are where we learn how to relate (or not relate) to other people, where we learn to manage conflict, and where we develop patterns of behavior. Of course there are other factors that influence our development, but there is no impact quite like our family leaves. Think about it.... our families began long before we are born and will continue long after we leave this earth. Families at their best have the potential to bring us great joy in our lives but families at their worst can also bring pain unlike any other. Family of origin exploration which refers to examining our relationships with our family members, can provide incredibly useful insight into family patterns and processes. All families have developed and passed down unhelpful patterns. The work lies in learning how to recognize certain processes that might need some adjusting in order to build stronger and closer relationships with our loved ones. Relationships that are built on authenticity and a good balance of togetherness and individuality.