Is Family Counseling A Good Idea?

Question by Sarah B: Is Family Counseling A Good Idea?
My family has been going through a lot of turmoil through the last few years, mainly based around my mother.

My older brother started to abuse alcohol and drugs in his early teens, attempted suicide before leaving middle school, and has been arrested countless times for various, stupid acts.

My younger sister has had one hell of an attitude for as long as I can remember, and gets into frequent spats with all of the members of our family. Her most recent stunt is not coming home at all last night, and not bothering to call. She’s barely 15. She did the same thing earlier this summer, leaving the family to worry sick. She was less than unapologetic both times.

I’m the mostly normal one, besides the fact that I’ve gone untreated for depression since the I was 13 years old, and that I ran away for three days when I was 16. I live with many personal ailments that I’m afraid to bring up to my overbearing, sarcastic, oblivious mother.

My dad takes it all in stride, and uses sensitivity to try to solve things. Bless his heart, the only person he seems to get through to is me. My mom claims that he doesn’t set boundaries, and that’s why we continue to have problems. They are constantly fighting about how to raise us kids, and how we should have raised my brother, who now lives on his own. My mom threatens that she might move out soon, that she cannot stand to live with my dad and his thoughts. I’m 18, and I can’t stand to listen to her immaturity for much longer. I’m at my breaking point, and I would really like to solve this once and for all.

Any advice?

Best answer:

Answer by John Holmes
by all means get a family therapist

good luck

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