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The counseling experiences of individuals who are estranged from a family member

Blake, Lucy; Bland, Becca; Imrie, Susan

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Authors

Becca Bland

Susan Imrie



Abstract

Objective: For the first time, this study explored the counseling experiences of individuals estranged from a family member and the ways in which therapy was helpful, unhelpful, or both. Background: Family relationships are often assumed to be permanent. However, family members both can and do become estranged from one another, which can be a challenging experience, leading to feelings of sadness and loss and experiences or perceptions of stigma. Method: Findings are presented from an online survey of individuals who are estranged from one or more family members and had sought support from the charity Stand Alone. Open-text responses were thematically analyzed from 209 respondents, 133 of whom elaborated on counseling experiences that had been helpful and 107 of whom described counseling experiences that had been unhelpful. Results: Helpful encounters with therapy were those in which respondents felt supported to make their own decisions about their family relationships, developed insight and understanding through working with professionals who were knowledgeable about estrangement, and moved forward in their lives. Conclusion: Therapy that is delivered by professionals who offer nondirective support (rather than suggesting that clients act or feel a certain way) and who are knowledgeable about estrangement will be of the greatest help and utility to individuals estranged from a family member. Implications: Commissioning bodies who offer support to estranged individuals need to ensure that counselors are knowledgeable about estrangement and that training on this issue is included in ongoing career professional development.

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date May 25, 2021
Online Publication Date Oct 9, 2019
Publication Date Oct 1, 2020
Deposit Date May 25, 2021
Publicly Available Date May 26, 2021
Journal Family Relations
Print ISSN 0197-6664
Electronic ISSN 1741-3729
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 69
Issue 4
Pages 820-831
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12385
Keywords Social Sciences (miscellaneous); Education; Developmental and Educational Psychology
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/7418183

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