128. Regulating the Collective Nervous Systems of Families
Sep 13, 2022
auto_awesome
Explore how families have their own collective nervous systems, creating a web of emotional support and regulation. Discover how even seemingly dysfunctional behaviors serve a purpose within the family unit. Learn strategies to become an external regulator, helping to calm and balance family dynamics. The discussion highlights the interconnectedness of individual nervous systems and offers transformative tips for therapeutic practices. This conversation is sure to reshape your understanding of family interactions!
Understanding the collective nervous system in families helps therapists target interventions to promote emotional equilibrium among members.
Behavioral changes in one family member can significantly influence the dynamics of the entire family system, illustrating interconnectedness.
Deep dives
The Collective Nervous System of Families
Understanding the concept of the collective nervous system within families is essential for effective therapy. Each family member possesses an individual nervous system, which interacts and influences the whole family unit. When individuals are faced with challenges, their nervous systems react in fluid ways, either elevating to a sympathetic state of fight-or-flight or withdrawing into a dorsal state of collapse. This dynamic creates an environment where the nervous systems are not only connected but also engaged in a balancing act, with certain members often defaulting to sympathetic or dorsal responses to maintain equilibrium in the family system.
Shifts in Behavioral Dynamics
Behavioral changes in one family member affect the overall dynamics of the system. For instance, when a child in therapy integrates certain behaviors, it can lead to unexpected expressions from other siblings, who may begin to exhibit behaviors mirroring those of the initially identified child. This phenomenon illustrates how the energy within the family system shifts with each member's progress or regress, prompting others to adjust their own behaviors to achieve new states of balance. Recognizing this interconnectedness emphasizes that children's behaviors are not merely imitative; they are responses to the evolving dynamics of the family.
Regulating Family Systems in Therapy
In therapeutic settings, professionals play a crucial role in regulating the collective nervous system of families. By detecting the most dysregulated individual—be it an overly sympathetic or dorsal member—therapists can target their interventions effectively. The focus should be on co-regulating that individual to create a ripple effect throughout the family, promoting overall equilibrium. Ultimately, the goal is to empower parents and caregivers to regulate their children, fostering a harmonious family dynamic where each member contributes to maintaining balance.
1.
Exploring the Collective Nervous System in Family Dynamics
If you’ve ever studied with Lisa, you know she loves talking about the nervous system. And in this episode, she’s going to talk about the collective nervous systems within families and how to help support the regulation of the family system.
If you’re just as excited about this topic as Lisa, you’ll definitely want to take notes for this one …
Here’s what you’ll hear …
How nervous system expressions occur within the context of families;
How all behavior (even what we term as dysfunctional) is actually functional and has a purpose;
How the family system is always in balance and how it is always attempting to equilibrate itself;
How to become the external regulator to help regulate the family nervous system; and
How to use this information clinically to inform your therapeutic work.
Plus, learn a powerful tip that will help you shift the collective nervous system of the family unit in a most transformative way.
* If you enjoy this podcast, please give us a five-star rating and review on Apple Podcast, subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and invite your friends/fellow colleagues to join us.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode