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Families & Health
Information on problems facing today's
families
Adolescent
Behavior Problems
Adolescent Self-Harm
Adolescent Substance
Abuse
Adoption Today
Adult Attachment
Relationships
Adult
Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder
Adult Cancer
Alcohol Problems
Alzheimer's Disease
Asperger's Syndrome
Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder
Bipolar
Disorder
Bipolar Disorder in Children and Adolescents
Body-focused
Repetitive Disorders
Borderline Personality
Disorder
Bereavement
Caregiving for the Elderly
Child Abuse and Neglect
Childhood Sexual Abuse
Children and Divorce
Children of Alcoholics
Children's Attachment
Relationships
Chronic Illness
Depression
Dissociative
Identity Disorder
Domestic Violence
Eating Disorders
Effect of Anger on
Families
Families Living with HIV Disease
Female Sexual Problems
Gay and Lesbian Youth
Gender Identity
Genetic Disorders
Grandparents Raising
Grandchildren
Grieving the Loss of a
Child
Infertility
Infidelity
Male Sexual Problems
Managing Conflict
During Divorce
Marital Distress
Marriage and Family
Therapists
Marriage Preparation
Mental Illness in
Children
Multiracial Families
Obsessive Compulsive
Disorder
Online
Infidelity
Oppositional Defiant
Disorder
Panic Disorder
Parkinson's Disease
Phobias
Postpartum Depression
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Rape Trauma
Same-sex
Couples
Same-sex
Parents and Their Children
Schizophrenia
Sexual Addiction
Sexual Health
Sibling Violence
Stepfamilies
Substance Abuse and Intimate Relationships
Suicidal Ideation and Behavior
Suicide in the Elderly
When Your
Adolescent Acts Out Sexually
Alzheimer's Disease
Approximately four million people in the United States
have Alzheimer's Disease (AD). This condition can be
devastating--not only for the diagnosed individual, but also
for the entire family. A family therapist can help both
individuals and families navigate through the difficult issues
that AD poses.
Click here for more information...
Asperger's Syndrome
Asperger’s Syndrome is a
neurologically-based developmental disorder. The exact cause
is unknown, but experts believe it is a complex condition
involving multiple genetic and environmental components--no
one gene or single environmental factor causes AS. Asperger’s
Syndrome is similar in many ways to autism. These two
disorders are grouped together in a category called Autistic
Spectrum Disorders (ASD). The disorders are also referred to
as Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD).
Click here for more information...
Adult Attachment Relationships
Adult
intimate relationships can be understood through attachment
theory, which has been researched and validated in a
number of research studies over the last few decades. John
Bowlby, an English psychiatrist, observed as early as 1958
that human beings are biologically wired to seek and maintain
a few intimate relationships. He asserted that our need to
connect begins at birth and continues throughout life, and as
adults, we continue to need a special someone who will be
emotionally accessible and responsive to us.
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Body-focused
Repetitive Disorders
Body-focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs) have long been among
the most poorly understood, misdiagnosed, and undertreated
groups of disorders. The term BFRBs refers to a group of
disorders that include hair pulling, compulsive skin picking,
compulsive nail biting, biting the insides of the cheeks, lip
picking, blemish squeezing, nose picking, etc. Although
lightly regarded as “nervous habits” by many, they can have
serious negative impact upon sufferers.
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Panic Disorder
Panic Disorder, one of the most common types of anxiety
disorders, takes its toll on individuals and families. If left
untreated, this disorder can be consuming. The good news is
that effective treatments are available.
Click here for more information...
Parkinson's Disease
Each year in the U.S., 60,000 new cases of Parkinson’s disease (PD) are
diagnosed, adding to the 1.5 million Americans who currently
have this disease. PD is a progressive, neurodegenerative
disease that has no age, race, sex, or socioeconomic
boundaries, and is without a known cause. The main
characteristic of PD is a lack of dopamine in the brain,
forcing one to experience challenges with motor and non-motor
skills.
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Child Abuse and Neglect
Child maltreatment can be categorized as neglect, physical
abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse. Almost 3 million
children are harmed or endangered by maltreatment each year.
While girls are four times more likely to be sexually abused,
boys are slightly more likely to be neglected and 24% more
likely to be physically abused. Children with disabilities are
almost four times more likely to be recipients of neglect and
abuse. Further, poverty plays a major role in physical abuse
and neglect, as parents who earn less than $15,000 per year
are 44 times more likely to maltreat their children compared
to parents earning more than $30,000. Statistics show that
parental maltreatment accounts for nearly 80% of child deaths
each year.
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here for more information...
Childhood Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse in the family is one of the most perplexing and
confusing problems facing families. The number of families
affected by this phenomenon is staggering. A majority of
sexually abused children are abused by someone they know,
perhaps a family member, a close family friend, a member of
clergy, or a youth leader. Child sexual abuse is a painful,
traumatic family secret that has rippling effects upon the
entire family.
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here for more information...
Families Living
with HIV Disease
Human immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV) has been known for over
25 years. It affects people in every country in the world. The
United Nations estimates that there are 39.5 million people
worldwide with HIV. Each day the disease affects more
individuals, families and communities. In the U.S., it is
thought that up to 1.2 million people are living with HIV. Click
here for more information...
Caregiving for the Elderly
Nearly 25% of American households are providing care to people
age 50 years and over. While many caregivers find much meaning
in the opportunity to care for a loved one, there are health
risks associated with long-term caregiving.
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Gay and Lesbian Youth
A new generation of
gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth are coming of
age in a society increasingly tolerant and yet still deeply
divided about homosexuality. On one hand, there is increased
openness and an older generation of openly gay and lesbian
role models. On the other hand, there is an increased backlash
in the form of religious fundamentalism, violence, and legal
intervention designed to “protect” traditional marriages and
families. Sexual minority or “queer” youth are coming out
younger than ever before and many are coming out in middle
school and high school, while still living at home. Coming
out, in some cases, then, has become a family affair.
Click here for more information...
Genetic Disorders
We all
have genetic conditions; some of us know which ones, others do
not. In the future, our genetic blueprint will allow for more
specific understandings about individual susceptibility to
particular diseases, so that prevention strategies can be
targeted and individualized.
Click here for more information...
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Custodial grandparenting occurs
when a grandparent assumes responsibility for a grandchild
because the grandchild’s parents cannot or choose not to care
for the child. Some common reasons for custodial
grandparenting include parental substance abuse, abuse and
neglect, incarceration, HIV/AIDS, mental or physical illness,
teenage pregnancy, abandonment, divorce, and death. Although
grandparent-headed families are extremely diverse, they are
more likely to be African-American, female-headed, and living
in poverty.
Click here for more information...
Grieving
the Loss of a Child
The loss of a child is the most devastating experience a
parent can face--and missing the child never goes away. A
piece of yourself is lost and your future is forever changed.
The age of the child at the time of death does not lessen the
hurt or devastation. It feels completely unnatural for a
child to die before his or her parents. However, over 57,000
children under the age of 19 die every year in the United
States.
Click here for more information...
Marital Distress
Everyone who is
married experiences difficulties, but for some, these troubles
reach the point that partners become profoundly disappointed
and upset about their marriages and may even come to question
whether they want to continue to remain married. Marital
distress is very unsettling and the ways marital problems
often progress make it easy for things to go from bad to
worse.
Click
here for more information...
Managing
Conflict During Divorce
Although not the intention of most parents, putting children
in the middle of conflict is particularly detrimental.
Examples of this are: asking children to carry messages
between parents, grilling children about the other parent’s
activities, telling children the other parent does not love
them, and putting the other parent down in front of the
children. Poorly managed conflict between parents increases
children’s risk of behavior problems, depression, substance
abuse and dependence, poor social skills, and poor academic
performance.
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here for more information...
Marriage and
Family Therapists
Marriage and family therapists are mental health
professionals with a minimum of a master’s degree and two
years supervised clinical experience. Marriage and family
therapists (commonly referred to as MFTs or family therapists)
are trained and licensed to independently diagnose and treat
mental health and substance abuse problems.
Click
here for more information...
Marriage Preparation
Social scientists and clinicians have found about two dozen
specific factors that predict future marital satisfaction.
These are best assessed through the use of Premarital Assessment
Questionnaires (PAQs).
Click
here for more information...
Adolescent Self-Harm
By definition, self-harm refers to hurting oneself to relieve
emotional pain or distress. Many adolescents today are engaging
in this dangerous behavior, often in secrecy. The good news
is that there are treatments to help teens and families with
this issue.
Click
here for more information...
Postpartum Depression
The birth of a baby is typically a very special occasion for
both the parents and family. Although the period following
childbirth can be exciting, it is important to realize that
the birth mother may experience some degree of depression,
given the hormonal changes that she will experience. Postpartum
depression is often overlooked and may even go untreated,
which can be unsafe for both mother and child.
Click
here for information...
Online Infidelity
Sexual behavior over the Internet can easily threaten
relationships because it is extremely accessible, affordable,
and the ability to hide one's identity helps people feel they
can escape being caught. Online sexual behavior is proving to
be highly addictive to some users and serious relationship
problems are reported in almost all marriages in which one
partner is cybersex addicted.
Click
here for information...
Phobias
Phobias
are constant, excessive fears of an object or situation that
interfere with one's life and/or cause personal distress.
Phobias are among the most common types of psychiatric
disorders, with 11% of the population subject to a phobia at
some point in their lives, and 5.5% of the population subject
to a phobia within a given 30-day period. Many people learn to
manage their phobia with minimal difficulties. For example, a
person with a spider phobia might avoid activities such as
camping, but otherwise does not notice a disruption in his or
her life. However, for phobias that cause noticeable life
interference, there are effective treatments that are
successful in up to 90% of cases.
Click
here for information...
Sibling Violence
Sibling
violence or abuse can be described as a repeated pattern of
physical aggression with the intent to inflict harm and
motivated by a need for power and control. Often, it is an
escalating pattern of aggression that parents have difficulty
stopping. Some of the most important questions to ask are: “Is
one child consistently a victim of the other?” “How often and
how long has the behavior been occurring?” and “Is the
behavior age appropriate?”
Click
here for information...
Stepfamilies
In
stepfamilies, insider and outsider positions start out
painfully stuck. Agreements about every day issues lie within
the parent-child unit, not between the adult couple. And
single parent families usually have become a very tight unit.
All of this makes stepparents outsiders in their new families.
This outsider position often leaves stepparents feeling
invisible, powerless, rejected and lonely. Biological (or
adoptive) parents begin as the stuck insiders. They are most
connected to their own children, to their new partner, and to
their ex-spouse. Insider parents often feel torn and anxious
trying to balance everyone's needs.
Click
here for information...
Same-sex
Couples
Same-sex couples share many commonalities with heterosexual
couples, including differing developmental variables and
family of origin dynamics. The day-to-day activities of their
lives often are similar, but the social context in which they
live differs greatly, largely due to the influences of the
heterosexism of the dominant culture and gender role
socialization on their relationship dynamics.
Click
here for information...
Same-sex
Parents and Their Children
There
is not a “usual” gay family. Some same-sex couples may decide
to have a child within their relationship, while others may
bring children from previous heterosexual or same-sex unions.
The rise in same-sex parenting is partially due to the
increase in options available for same-sex couples to become
parents. Although most children of same-sex couples are
biological children of one of the parents, a growing number
are the result of donor insemination, surrogacy, foster care
and adoption.
Click
here for information...
Sexual
Addiction
Sexual
addiction is a serious problem in which one engages in
persistent and escalating patterns of sexual behavior despite
increasing negative consequences to one's self or others. Like
other addictions, these behaviors continue despite sincere and
persistent efforts to stop. Some might not think sex can be
addictive because there are no chemicals involved. However,
the body produces many hormones and neurotransmitters during
sex that produce the same chemical "high" as drugs or alcohol.
Sex addicts, like other addicts, often have a background of
abuse (sexual, physical, emotional) and/or neglect, and family
histories sprinkled with numerous addictions.
Click
here for information...
Sexual
Health
Because
sexual health encompasses both physical and emotional
well-being, problems with sexual health can significantly
disrupt normal functioning for an individual, partner, and the
family. Issues in a relationship such as power imbalances,
resentment, and anger can reduce how much desire one has for
his or her partner. Communication problems within a
relationship and an inability to talk about how to meet sexual
needs can also impact a couple’s ability to be sexually
healthy. Couples also may fear being close to one another,
which will also reduce their desire.
Click here for
information...
Gender
Identity
Transgender
is an umbrella term, encompassing all nontraditional gender
expressions, including, but not limited to: transsexual,
cross-dresser, gender-bender, gender outlaw, gender queer, and
drag king/queen. There are many diverse ways of being
transgender. For example, not every transgender person is
interested in changing his or her gender presentation (such as
from male to female). Instead, some transgender people wish to
expand or discard traditional definitions of gender.
Click here for more information...
Suicidal Ideation and
Behavior
Suicide occurs all too frequently in our society- statistics
show that more people die from suicides than from homicides.
An individual who expresses suicidal thoughts is in need of
immediate assistance from a qualified mental health professional,
such as an MFT.
Click
here for more information...
Suicide in the Elderly
Older
adults make up 12% of the US population, but account for 18% of all
suicide deaths. This is an alarming statistic, as the elderly are the
fastest growing segment of the population, making the issue of later-life
suicide a major public health priority.
Click
here for more information...
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia affects 1% of the population and can have devastating
effects on the family. The good news is that many evidence-based
treatments are now available for this disease, and a qualified
MFT can assist both the client and family with the treatment
process.
Click
here for more information...
Chronic Illness
An individual's chronic illness affects the lives of everyone
in the family and may create a great deal of stress for all
those involved. Family members or the family as a whole may
need the support of a qualified MFT who can help the family
cope with the many challenges brought on by chronic illness.
Click here for more information...
Adolescent Substance
Abuse
By the time they are high school seniors, most teens have
tried an illicit drug. Such experimentation has the potential
to develop into severe drug use and dependence. This pamphlet
offers a snapshot of the various factors surrounding adolescent
substance abuse, and provides parents and guardians with sound
advice and useful resources to learn more about avoiding and
treating this problem.
Click here for more information...
Children's Attachment
Relationships
A common feature of parent-child relationships that underlies
or runs parallel to many troublesome problems is an insecure
attachment. Because children’s early attachment relationships
govern other relationships throughout life, early intervention
is a key to reducing the long-term effects of attachment difficulties.
This pamphlet answers the questions: What should I know about
attachment relationships? When should I seek help? What is
therapy like?
Click here for more information ...
Children of Alcoholics
There are 18 million
alcoholics in the U.S. according to the National Council on
Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. As a result, an estimated 26.8
million children are exposed, at varying degrees, to
alcoholism in the family. These children are at higher risk
for alcoholism and other drug abuse than are children of
non-alcoholics, and are more likely to marry an alcoholic as
well. Children of alcoholics or addicts are commonly referred
to as "COA."
Click here for more information ...
Dissociative Identity Disorder
Dissociation is a common, naturally occurring defense against
childhood trauma. Faced with overwhelming abuse, usually
physical and sexual accompanied by psychological trauma,
children learn to psychologically escape or dissociate from
full awareness of their experiences. Without protection and
safety from repeated trauma and abuse, dissociation becomes a
method of escape from the intolerable condition, creating a
coping mechanism to survive.
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Adult Cancer
Being diagnosed with cancer is a frightening event and will
impact every member of the family. With improved treatment
strategies, prevention techniques, and early detection tests,
a diagnosis of cancer is not as grim as it once was. In fact,
cancer has become more of a chronic illness than a fatal
disease. With this change comes a focus on quality of life
concerns and family therapists can play a key role in
improving the quality of life for individuals (including
partners and families) who have been diagnosed with cancer.
Click here for more information ...
Infertility
Infertility affects couples in many ways. Feelings of anger
and sadness are quite common, which may turn to grief. Couples
are likely to experience changes in their relationship. This
pamphlet answers the questions: How do I know when to seek
help? How can a Marriage and Family Therapist help?
Click here for more information ...
Bereavement and Loss
A wide array of emotions can be experienced with the death
of a loved one: sadness, anger, anxiety, guilt and despair.
This pamphlet answers the questions: How can I help myself?
When should I seek help? What type of help is available?
Click
here for more information...
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
The good news is that PTSD is highly treatable when diagnosed
early. The bad news is that it is often missed, or misdiagnosed,
by examining physicians and mental health professionals. This
pamphlet answers the questions: What causes PTSD? How can
you tell if it's PTSD? Is it possible that there can be a
delayed reaction to the traumatic event? What kind of help
is there for PTSD? What types of drugs might be used in treatment?
Click here for more information...
Rape Trauma
Whether it was 10
days ago or 10 years ago, emotions and thoughts may seem
overwhelming following a sexual assault. In learning the facts
about rape and how to get help, women will discover that the
symptoms they experience, while confusing, are to be expected
given the trauma of such an attack.
Click here for more
information...
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder
ADHD can affect families by straining sibling relationships;
causing a child to underachieve in school; diminishing family
cohesiveness; and creating marital stress. This pamphlet answers
the questions, How do I know when to seek help? How do I distinguish
between normal and problem behaviors? How do I know that the
diagnosis for my child is correct? Does my child have to be
treated with medication?
Click
here for more information...
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
It is common for children and teenagers to display bouts of
irritability, frustration, and disobedience over the course of
their growth and development. But some children and teens have
such an inflexible and hostile nature and their behavior can
be so uncooperative and defiant that they disrupt the
functioning of whole households and classrooms, not to mention
their own learning and well-being in relationships. One out of
every ten children or teenagers displays this type of
disposition and behavior with such regularity that they are
thought to have Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD).
Click here for more
information...
Adult Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder
The image of AD/HD in past decades has been the frenzied,
elementary-aged boy dangling from the monkey bars, disrupting
his class and disobeying all authority. This behavior drove
his desperate parents and teachers to seek an understanding of
his symptoms. As more has
been learned, what was thought to be a disorder of childhood,
of males, and of hyperactivity alone, has undergone
significant revision. AD/HD is a disorder of excessive
inattention...
Click
here for more information...
Children and Divorce
Divorce propels adults and children into numerous adjustments
and challenges. This pamphlet answers the questions, How can
you help your children? How do you know when to seek help
and What help is available for divorcing parents and children?
Click
here for more information...
Adolescent Behavior Problems
Many factors put youth and families at risk for juvenile delinquency.
Research indicates that the most effective treatments, even
with very difficult youth, are programs and treatments that
are family-based and multisystemic. Treatments that focus
on the family can also be useful in helping adults develop
their parenting skills, deal with stress, and work on marital
relationships.
Click
here for more information...
Alcohol Problems
Today we know a lot more about the set of different patterns
that fall under the term Alcohol Use Disorders. And, better
still, we know a lot more about how to turn things around
-- to get things back on track. A number of approaches have
been demonstrated to be effective. Some of them are more oriented
to seeing individuals, some to meeting in groups, some to
involving the family.
Click here for more information...
Infidelity
The causes of infidelity are complex and varied. Reasons include
low self-esteem, relationship deficits, or a social context
in which infidelity is condoned. This pamphlet discusses treatment
and recovery.
Click
here for more information...
Also see:
After
an Affair: How Marital Therapy Heals The Wounds
Male Sexual Problems
Couples today expect more out of sex and intimacy than in
any point in history. But sexual difficulties are normal.
This pamphlet discusses treatment options and when to get
help.
Click here for more information....
Mental Illness in Children
Although mental illness (MI) usually does not occur until
late adolescence or adulthood, it can and does occur in
childhood. When MI occurs in childhood, it is considered
childhood-onset mental illness (COMI). COMI can cause serious
problems for the children and adolescents who have it,
including problems in their biological, social, and emotional
development. If untreated, children with COMI can live their
lives misunderstood and mistreated.
Click
here for more information...
Multiracial Families
There are
approximately 7 million people in the United
States who identify as mixed-race, with half of these being under
the age of 18, and it is estimated that the
mixed-race population in the U.S. will reach 21% by 2050. Yet,
multiracial individuals and families remain marginalized and overlooked by
mainstream U.S. society. As a result, the unique issues and struggles they
face are often poorly understood by professionals, co-workers, friends and
extended family, making it difficult to successfully manage challenges
when they arise.
Click
here for more information...
Substance Abuse and Intimate
Relationships
It has long been known that marriage (or other committed
relationships) and substance abuse don’t mix. Having a partner
who drinks too much or uses drugs is very much like throwing a
stone into a still pond: the ripple effects are felt by his or
her children, relatives, friends, and co-workers. However,
many would argue that, aside from the abuser, the greatest
price is often paid by the abuser’s partner.
Click here for more
information...
Female Sexual Problems
Nearly 40 percent of women of all ages report having sexual
problems. This pamphlet answers the questions, What are female
sexual problems? What causes female sexual problems? How do
you know when to seek help? and How do you get help?
Click
here for more information...
Depression
The hopelessness and helplessness that people experience when
they are depressed is more than just a frame of mind -- it
is an entire way of being. This pamphlet answers the questions,
What are depression's effects on personal and family life?
How do you know when to seek help? and What kinds of treatments
are commonly used?
Click
here for more information...
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders consume the individual in obsessive negative
thinking and behaviors, and they consume the individual's
relationships with family members, loved ones, and life. This
pamphlet discusses the serious distress signals and what helps.
Click here for more information...
Domestic Violence
In almost 20 percent of all marriages, couples slap, shove,
hit, or otherwise assault each other. This pamphlet answers
the questions, How can I get help? What to do if a friend
or family member is in a violent relationship.
Click
here for more information...
Adoption
Today
Adoption brings families together in a variety of ways.
Family therapists can assist in the decision to adopt, as
well as help the adoptive family to understand what impact,
if any, adoption may be having on the adoptee and
family.
Click
here for more information...
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder occurs in between 1 in 100 and 1 in 200
people. If this serious mental illness is diagnosed and
treated appropriately, the symptoms can be effectively
controlled, relapses can be prevented, and the person can live
a happy happy and rewarding life.
Click
here for more information...
Bipolar Disorder
in Children and Adolescents
Bipolar
disorder is a serious mental health problem that affects
between 1% and 5% of children and adolescents. Bipolar
disorder is classified as a mood disorder by the mental health
profession, and can include two types of mood disturbances:
depression and mania (joyful, elevated or severely irritable
moods). Bipolar disorders can affect all aspects of a child or
adolescent's life, causing them difficulties at home, in
school, and in getting along with friends and classmates.
Click
here for more information...
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
BPD is a serious and complex mental illness that affects 2 -3%
of the population. Despite the seriousness of BPD, recent
research indicates that treatment can lead to considerable
improvement over time, and there is hope for recovery.
Click here for more
information...
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
OCD is a common anxiety disorder that affects about 1 to 2% of
the population. OCD can cause a great deal of stress and
frustration for both the individual and family, but
fortunately, there are very effective treatments for OCD.
Click here for more
information...
Effect of Anger on Families
Family
ties are one of the strongest contributors to individual
character development. Many of us spend years trying to
understand, erase, or copy the influence of our family unit.
When anger is part of a family’s tradition, it spreads itself
much like a virus to future generations.
Click here for more
information...
When Your Adolescent Acts Out Sexually
Curiosity surrounding sexuality is normal in the process of
development. However, some adolescents' behavior exceeds the
“norm” and extends sufficiently outside the realm of social
mores as to draw the attention of state, clinical or legal
entities. Offensive sexual behaviors range from sexual
harassment (e.g., calling attention a person’s body part.) to
engaging in inappropriate and, at times, illegal sexual
behaviors.
Click here for more information...
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