The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall

Elaine Carney Gibson: Family Systems Theory: How do the Rules Growing Up Still Impact You Today?

Sep 18, 2023

Psychotherapist Elaine Carney Gibson discusses family systems theory and the impact of family dynamics on our lives. They explore the significance of family stories and rituals, the importance of clear boundaries, and the challenges of breaking blaming dynamics. They also touch on the effects of sibling's death, creative ways to mark a child leaving home, and navigating marital problems. Bonus content on family secrets and meaningful connections is available for subscribers.

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Introduction

00:00 • 3min

The Impact of Stories and Family Influence

03:29 • 13min

Understanding Family Boundaries

16:09 • 13min

The Impact of Sibling's Death and Creating Healing Family Rituals

29:26 • 3min

Creative Ways to Mark the Occasion of a Child Leaving Home

32:53 • 4min

Navigating Marital Problems and Personal Growth

36:40 • 8min

Exploring Family Secrets and Meaningful Connections

44:25 • 3min

When families enter family therapy, they usually point to one person as the “problem” - this individual is seen as too much, or too angry, or too sensitive.

Family systems theory, however, looks at the whole family ecosystem to identify how this “problem” is being created, and whether it is in fact a symptom rather than a cause.

This week Andrew talks with psychotherapist Elaine Carney Gibson about family systems theory, and how “it is the relationships we experience within our families that shape who we are, how we feel about ourselves, and how we attach and relate to others”.

Elaine Carney Gibson, LMFT, LPC, is a practicing psychotherapist of 50 years. She sees individuals, couples, and families, specialising in Relationship Therapy. She taught graduate courses in marriage and family therapy for many years and is the director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Training Institute of The Link Counseling Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

Subscriber Content This Week

If you’re a subscriber to The Meaningful Life (via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Patreon), this week you’ll be hearing:

⭐️Family Secrets: To tell or not to tell?

⭐️Three things Elaine Carney Gibson knows to be true.

⭐️AND subscribers also access all of our previous bonus content - a rich trove of insight on love, life and meaning created by Andrew and his interviewees.

Follow Up

Read Andrew’s new Substack newsletter The Meaningful Life, and join the community there.

Read Elaine Carney Gibson’s book Your Family Revealed .

Visit Elaine Carney Gibson’s website

You might also be interested in hearing Galit Atlas talking with Andrew about Buried Trauma: How the Past Can Unconsciously Trap You or with Julia Samuel MBE about How We Inherit Pain from Our Parents and Grandparents.

Join our Supporters Club to access exclusive behind-the-scenes content, fan requests and the chance to ask Andrew your own questions. Membership starts at just £4.50.

Andrew offers regular advice on love, marriage and finding meaning in your life via his social channels. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube @andrewgmarshall