Emotional Contagion in Families

Psychologically Speaking by Dr. Lynn Margolies

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About This Column

This column is about common issues and struggles in families and demonstrates how they are resolved in family based therapy.

The column, based on real life events in families, tells both sides of the story - from the teenager’s, as well as the parent’s perspective. The stories are followed by Dr. Margolies’ analysis from a psychological perspective that integrates both points of view. She offers practical guidance to the family that helps the reader understand relatable situations in a new and more productive way, and learn what to do to improve the quality of family life.

The characters from the vignettes in Dr. Margolies’ articles are fictitious and designed to be relatable to many people and common themes. They are not based on any patient’s individual situation or disclosure but were derived from a composite of people and events for the purpose of representing real-life situations and psychological dilemmas. Terms of Use.

A Boy Divided: How Children are Affected in Contentious Divorce

This column tells a story based on a composite of real-life situations in families, depicting the child’s experience of being caught in the middle between their parents in a contentious situation, as well as the parents’ perspective. These descriptions are followed by the therapist’s psychological analysis and guidance.

Being a Grownup When Your Kid Hates You

This column tells a story based on a composite of real-life situations in therapy, depicting both the teen and parent’s viewpoints in divorce when the parent child relationship is affected by anger and guilt. The stories are followed by the therapist’s psychological analysis and guidance.

Crisis of Confidence in a Teen Athlete: It’s a Family Matter

This story is about a teenager who undergoes a crisis of confidence, after her identity was challenged by a sports injury. Her resulting difficulties challenged the well-being and stability of the whole family.

Power Plays Between Brothers & Families

This column tells a story about power plays between brothers and in families, depicting how the troubled relationship between two brothers was a therapeutic opportunity to change maladaptive family patterns. The story is told from both the parent’s and the brothers’ perspectives, followed by the therapist’s psychological analysis and practical guidance to the family.

Reactive Parenting with Teens – A Common Cause of Broken Connections

This column tells a story based on a composite of real-life situations in families, depicting both the teenager’s and parent’s perspective.