ALISSA MAXMAN
 

Family and Partnership today: old term — new definition?

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At the present time, we are experiencing a profound change in family structures. The traditional family models, which were shaped by cultural, economic and religious framework conditions, have changed a lot in recent decades: in the past, there were relatively clear ideas about what a partnership should look like and what roles men and women should play in it. The family was considered a solid and unchanging unit, which provided stability and security. Today, on the contrary, there are a huge number of family models, all of which have different needs and requirements. As a result, partnerships today have to be designed much more flexibly and individually. There are no more preconceived ideas about what a partnership should look like, but everyone has to decide individually for himself and his relationship what works best for him or her.

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Couples therapy has become particularly important under these circumstances, as the increased flexibility in the design of partnerships and family models can also lead to conflicts and uncertainties. The search for orientation and the individual design can lead to a high pressure of expectations and potential for conflict in partnerships. In addition, the variety of relationship models can also lead to uncertainty about which model is best suited for one's own partnership.

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On the one hand, we value independence and the ability to make our own decisions. On the other hand, we strive for connection and a sense of belonging to others. To (re)discover each other as a couple in this polarity is the biggest challenge I feel in modern society.