Family of Origin Therapy

The family-of-origin therapy is a type of therapy or treatment that focuses on a person's familial roots. A person's family of origin, the family that he or she grew up in which usually consists of the parents and siblings, has a great impact on how an individual perceives the world around him or her. It is through one's family upbringing and childhood experience that one is able to create beliefs, value systems, and a strong sense of self.

For many individuals, the foundation of one's personality was subconsciously built during his or her early years. As an individual watches his or her parents and experience a lot of things with the siblings, he or she is able to know which behavior is acceptable and what kind of thinking he or she should have in order to function well as an individual and as a part of the society.

Impact of early experiences

For people who grew up in an abusive environment, the consequences can lead to destructive behavior that may be carried on unto adulthood. Through a family-of-origin therapy, a person's family history is revealed and explored. Through this exploration, the therapist can help the troubled individual learn why he or she has a tendency to develop such a destructive behavior.

Of course, the family is not the only factor that can affect a person's behavior and way of thinking later on in life. But since family history is crucial, using family-of-origin therapy techniques can help a troubled person confront fears, reveal the roots of his or her destructive belief system, and in the end positively deal with past issues and develop a healthier set of beliefs and values. Once these are accomplished, the road to psychological and emotional healing begins.