"We are here," Amber began, her voice steady but sharp, "because the 'exclusive' nature of this family has become a prison. We tell the world we are perfect so we don't have to tell each other the truth."
The session was only half over. There were hours to go, layers of resentment and guilt to sift through, and no guarantee that they would walk out of the room a 'family' in the way the brochures promised. But as Amber exhaled, her shoulders dropping two inches, the 'Exclusive' tag faded away. The manufactured intimacy of the therapy room dissolved.
: This focuses on the relational context of problems, treating the family as a single emotional unit rather than a collection of individuals.