In virtually all schools of psychological thought, the family unit is treated as one of the most essential mirrors of individual personality and unresolved developmental issues. Because individual issues are so intricately intertwined with family matters, individuals often find themselves in some very heated and persistent conflicts with family members. Whether it is a mother struggling with issues of independence with her adolescent son, a father who seems to have difficulty being emotionally present with the rest of the family, sibling rivalry or any other core family conflict, it can often be difficult to sort out such issues without help. By definition, we are typically closer to our family members than most other individuals, so certain strong feelings we have toward one another can make it difficult to keep a relatively objective point of view.

As psychodynamic therapy emphasizes, family issues tend to be so compelling that we feel the need to unconsciously play these dynamics out in our other close relationships. A daughter who complains of an angry, emotionally volatile father, for instance, oftentimes finds herself marrying the same type of man later on. Similarly, parents often unconsciously repeat certain patterns and behaviors of their own parents, both desirable and undesirable, and can find themselves stuck in a kind of repeating loop over generations.

When working either with entire families or individual members of a conflicted family, the therapist brings a less biased third party perception into the conflict. Certain issues which may seem impossibly complicated within the closed system of a family may seem considerably less intimidating to a trained psychotherapist. Similarly, individuals who have unknowingly inherited certain undesirable traits from parents and other early figures may find that a therapist offers a more detached, helpful viewpoint when discussing the issue. This allows the client to bring more awareness to the his or her interpersonal relationships and to make more informed life choices as these issues rise to the surface.

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