Discover the Elements of Healing from Family Trauma
Think of these blogs as a colourful buffet of ideas and stories. Just scroll through and pick whatever grabs your attention or speaks to you. Each one is a little treasure trove of insights on dependency and family life. Happy exploring!
We'll be sharing more content with you soon! Don't forget to bookmark this page so you can easily check back for our upcoming additions. We appreciate your interest
Understanding Co-dependence in Adult Children of Dependents
Co-dependency shows up in five distinct patterns, and each one needs a different therapeutic approach. Beyond the avoidance patterns we explore in this article, there are control, compliance, obsession, and denial types that your clients may present with. Understanding these variations makes all the difference in your treatment outcomes. Adult children of substance-dependent parents often display complex combinations of these patterns, which can make assessment challenging. That's where the Origins of Co-dependence workbook comes in, providing you with practical tools for identifying and working effectively with all five co-dependency types, helping you develop targeted strategies that truly fit each client's unique story and trauma history.
Working with Codependency Controlling Patterns
Many clients who grew up in families affected by addiction develop controlling behaviours as a way to create safety amid chaos. These patterns, while protective, can strain relationships and cause distress. Understanding the roots of these behaviours-and approaching them with compassion-is key to supporting lasting change. My workbook offers practical, trauma-informed strategies to help clients recognise and gently shift these patterns toward healthier connections.
Working with Co-dependency Avoidance Patterns
Many clients who have experienced trauma linked to family members’ substance or process dependencies develop avoidance and codependence patterns that block healing and connection. This blog explores how therapists can recognise these behaviours and offers practical strategies to help clients break free. Discover how The Origins of Codependence Workbook and other resources can support your therapeutic work and guide clients toward lasting recovery.
Working with Co-dependency Denial Patterns
Many adults who grew up with parents struggling with addiction develop denial patterns as a survival mechanism. In this post, we explore how these patterns show up in clients, illustrated by Michael’s story-a man caught in the grip of denial shaped by his parents who were dependent on substances. Understanding these behaviours is essential for therapists supporting healing and growth.
If you want practical tools to help your clients uncover and overcome codependent denial, check out my workbook, The Origins of Codependence. It offers clear strategies and exercises designed for therapists and clients alike.
Understanding Co-dependency Compliance Patterns in Therapy
When clients from families with addiction or dysfunction present as overly agreeable, therapists might see it as people-pleasing—but it runs much deeper. Compliance patterns are protective strategies, often rooted in a survival-based need for safety, acceptance, and belonging. This post explores how chronic niceness can signal codependent dynamics that erode self-trust and intimacy, and offers clinical insights into recognising and working with these patterns in therapeutic practice.
Working with Co-dependent Patterns of Low Self Worth
Many clients who grew up with emotionally dependent or neglectful caregivers carry a hidden burden: a deeply ingrained belief that they are not good enough. This blog explores how low self-worth fuels codependent patterns and how therapists can support clients in reclaiming their value. It also introduces Origins of Codependence, a practical workbook designed to uncover and transform these early wounds.