Family Therapy Involving an Alcoholic Parent Essay

One in five adults can identify with growing up with an alcoholic relative and Twenty-eight million Americans have one parent abusing or dependent on alcoholic (Walker, Lee, 1998). There are devastating and ubiquitous effects of alcoholism, which vary from psychological, social, or biological problems for families. Counselor’s treating this problem all agree that the relationships within a family, especially between a parent and a child is one of the most influential within a system, but what are the effects on the family when a parent is an alcoholic? Contemporary research has found there is a higher prevalence of problems in the family when alcohol is the organizing principle. In addition, there is copious research on the roles†¦show more content†¦Children of alcoholics (COAs) frequently take on roles of parents and feel responsible for their parent’s problems. Young children often exhibit problem behaviors because of high levels of tension and stres s at home. These behaviors may range from younger children having nightmares, bed wetting, and crying to older children, displaying signs of depression, obsessive behaviors with perfectionism, hoarding, or self-consciousness. COAs have no consistency in their home life, which results in learning from their parent’s behavior. This often leads to significant behavior problems because they are unable to control themselves at home or school. Typically, COAs develop pervasive problems that significantly affect their abilities to learn, communicate, and develop friendships. COAs are exposed to more crime and violence due to their alcoholic parent. COA’s have a higher rate of becoming alcoholics themselves and a lower rate of graduating college. Children of Alcoholics (COAs) in Therapy Previously discussed were unfavorable outcomes for COAs, but this should not be treated as absolute because there are many factors involved that may prevent the negative effects of parent alcoholism (Walker Lee, 1998). 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