Family Disputes

A family is considered to be a group of individuals related by blood who are committed to one another’s well being. Our family can be our greatest source of support, comfort and love. But it can be our greatest source of pain and grief. A health crisis, work problems or teenage rebellion may threaten to tear our family apart.

All families at some time experience difficulties and stress. Family disputes include any conflict between people who are related in some way, or who are part of a family or have been part of a family in the past. This can include:

• within families, such as between couples, parents and children, siblings
• between families, such as adult siblings and their families, grandparents and their children’s families, blended or step-families
• between separated couples and their families

Interpersonal interactions of pathological families are marked by emotional alienation, schisms and skew in families, seesaw movement and double-blind communication system. These dysfunctional families can cause mental health problems in children and adults and be leading to behavioural disorders, neurosis, psychosomatic illness and scholastic backwardness. These problems can be resolved by providing counselling and psychological interventions.

Characteristics of dysfunctional families:

• Rigidity- lack of flexibility.
• Lack of individuation- loss of autonomy.
• Extreme detachment.
• Scapegoating- family member (often child) who is the object of displaced conflict and criticism.
• Triangulation- Detouring, a conflict between two people by involving a third person.
• Faulty problem-solving skills.
• Conflict avoidance.
• Inconsistent application of affection and discipline.
• Low levels of support, nurturance and acceptance.
• Increased degree of expressed hostility towards each other.

Treatment

Family disputes can be difficult and emotional. When relationships change it can be hard for family members to handle things on their own. There are a number of services available to assist.

• Family Therapy: In family therapy, the therapist applies therapeutic principles while engaging the participation of family members, individually and as a group. Family therapy helps families or individuals within a family to understand and improve the way family members interact with each other and resolve conflicts. In general, anyone who wants to improve troubled relationships can benefit from family therapy. Family therapy can help with such issues as:
  • Marital problems
  • Divorce
  • Eating disorders
  • Substance abuse
  • Depression
  • Chronic health problems such as asthma, cancer
  • Grief, loss and trauma
  • Work stress
  • Parenting skills
  • Emotional abuse or violence
  • Financial problems
• Counselling can assist people to change things in their relationships or themselves and assist people to cope with difficulties and stress.
• Mediation can assist people to work through differences and reach an agreement, for instance about parenting responsibilities, finances or communication.
• Group Work can assist people to develop skills, such as anger management, communication and parenting.
• Support Services can offer practical assistance, for instance, contact and changeover centres, or intervention and support for people at risk or in need such as home visits or advocacy.