Family Estrangement is a complex phenomenon, affecting many across the globe.
Due to tightly held cultural and religious views and beliefs around family, those who chose to share their estrangement often feel they are being judged and blamed for their family situation. In fact, 68% of estranged people feel there is a stigma (Blake et al., 2015).
Research into estrangement sterotypes have found predominantly negative views, with terms such as ‘selfish’, ‘ungrateful’ and ‘abusive’ being used to describe estranged people (Rittenour et al., 2018).
This is particularly evident on social media platforms sharing estrangement articles, where the reasons behind an estrangement are often minimized, and the estranged person is negatively labeled, which can compound the sense of shame and isolation many estranged people already feel (Blake et al., 2015).
In response to this, psychotherapist and author of the book “Navigating Family Estrangement” (Routledge, 2024), Karl Melvin combines his research and 13 years of clinical experience, along with the existing literature to create this workshop to delve into the stigma.
This practical workshop includes a detailed 25 page eBook for participants to follow.
Blake, L., Bland, B., & Golombok, S. (2015). Hidden Voices: Family Estrangement In Adulthood. In https://www.standalone.org.uk. Stand Alone. https://www.standalone.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/HiddenVoices.FinalReport.pdf.
Rittenour, C., Kromka, S., Pitts, S., Thorwart, M., Vickers, J., & Whyte, K. (2018, October 20). Communication Surrounding Estrangement: Stereotypes, Attitudes, and (Non)Accommodation Strategies. Behavioral Sciences, 8(10), 96. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs8100096.
Learning Objective Participants Can Expect From This Event
- What the stigma looks like and the difference between ‘Felt’ and ‘Enacted’ stigma.
- Where the stigma comes from, it’s impact on clients, and why there is a stigma at all.
- How we can help clients work through experiences of being stigmatized, and how we can challenge the stigma in society at large.
Who is This Workshop Appropriate For?
- All professionals working with complex family issues/conflict
How May This Workshop Impact Your Practice?
- Participants will develop insight into stigma estranged clients are facing and validate their potential experiences of marginalisation and judgement.
Course Content
Presenter
Karl Melvin is an Irish Psychotherapist, accrediated with the IACP and has a Masters degree in Counseling and Psychotherapy.
He has spent 13 years working with estranged adults from various perspectives. His approach involves helping clients to understand their complex family history and dynamics, as well navigating the equally complex challenges of being estranged in contemporary society.
He provides training global to estranged adults as well as professionals working with estrangement, such as Psychotherapists and Psychologists. He has also contributed to estrangement articles in the media in both Ireland and the US.
He has one family estrangement published in the Family Journal, entitled “The Changing Impact and Challenges of Family Estrangement”.
His first book “Navigating Family Estrangement” is published by Routledge and is available for pre-order on Amazon.
