Broken relationships between adult children and their parents is a widespread phenomenon. While the parent-child attachment relationship is of critical importance for the child in the early years of life, the parent-child relationship continues to be a source of great importance over the course of the individual’s life span for both the child and the parent. For adults and adult children who are estranged/alienated from each other, the pain and dissatisfaction never fully go away. Despite the prevalence of the problem of ruptured relationships, there are few resources available for mental health professionals working with this population. This book provides a tool for clinicians to turn to when they are working with adult children and their parents seeking to resolve conflict, improve communication, and enhance their relationships.

An examination of adults who have been manipulated by divorcing parents. Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS) occurs when divorcing parents use children as pawns, trying to turn the child against the other parent. This book examines the impact of PAS on adults and offers strategies and hope for dealing with the long-term effects.

DIVTimely. Prophetic. On the cutting edge. In Restoring the Christian Family, the Sandfords confront the issues facing families today with sound logic based on scriptural truth./div

Emotionally Focused Family Therapy is the definitive manual for applying the effectiveness of emotionally focused therapy (EFT) to the complexities of family life. The book sets out a theoretical framework for mental health professionals to enhance their conceptualization of family dynamics, considering a broad range of presenting problems and family groups. The first section applies EFT theory and principles to the practice of family therapy. The second section explicates the process of EFT and examines the interventions associated with the EFT approach to families. In the final section, the authors provide case examples of emotionally focused family therapy (EFFT) practice, with chapters on traumatic loss, stepfamilies, externalizing disorders, and internalizing disorders. Integrating up-to-date research with clinical transcripts and case examples throughout, Emotionally Focused Family Therapy is a must-read for therapists looking to promote the development and renewal of family relationships using the principles of EFT.

Every family is hurting, and the wounds that come from our relatives can be deeper than all others. Conflict within a family can range from daily frictions and annoyances to rage and hatred and eventually estrangement. We want things to be different but have no idea where to start. After 25 years of ministering to families, Rob Rienow believes reconciliation is at the heart of the gospel--reconciliation with God and one another. You will come away with specific steps you can take in your relationships with your family members to pursue peace and healing in your homes. Each chapter includes key biblical examples as well as present-day stories of families who have experienced God's help and healing--including the author's own miraculous healing of his relationship with his father. Our families can bring out the best, as well as the worst, in all of us. May this book guide you in making your home and family a blessing in a broken world.

Jesus provides the vision: "Love each other as I have loved you" (John 15:12). Jesus loved generously, even lavishly, surprising people by loving without preconditions or limits. He pursued people to love them, bringing healing and freedom. We need loving relationships when we are struggling with life's challenges. Unfortunately, the Christian community has not always been a reliable source of support. The strategies used in an effort to be helpful often break relationship because they are rooted in fear, not love. We fear vulnerability, and we feel vulnerable when we go through times of distress or walk with someone who is. Our fear of vulnerability blocks our capacity to connect when we need it most. Restoring Relationship explores the roots of vulnerability and provides a framework for transforming fear into love through connection.Through stories and exercises, I introduce a new spiritual practice based on the Internal Family Systems (IFS) model, demonstrating the congruence of IFS with biblical and theological truths. Common causes of distress, including loss, betrayal, addiction, and the emotional response to physical and mental illness, are explored through the lens of IFS and the new spiritual practice. Through this journey of connection, constraints to loving relationships are removed, restoring loving relationships with God, one another, and ourselves.

"Addiction can wreak havoc on relationships, destroying trust and damaging bonds with family, friends, and colleagues. Substance use both causes these interpersonal problems and becomes a method of trying to cope with them. Psychologist and addictions expert Kelly Green has learned through working with hundreds of clients that maintaining healthy relationships is key to the recovery process. In this compassionate, judgment-free guide, Dr. Green shares powerful tools for setting and maintaining boundaries, communicating feelings and needs, ending harmful relationships respectfully, and reestablishing emotional intimacy. With inspiring narratives, downloadable self-assessment worksheets, and exercises, this book lights the way to a life untethered from addiction--and filled with positive connections"--