Lessons from the Playroom cover image

Lessons from the Playroom

128. Regulating the Collective Nervous Systems of Families

Sep 13, 2022
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!
24:43

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Quick takeaways

  • 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.

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