At Chrysalis Psychology & Wellbeing, our psychologists in Hobart help individuals and families navigate conflict, improve communication, and rebuild relationships. We also offer telehealth psychology across Australia. Please contact us for more information.
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You love these people. But lately, being in the same room feels like walking through a minefield. You know which topics to avoid. You have learned which tone of voice signals that something is about to ignite. You go through the motions at dinner and wonder how it got to this.
Maybe it is a relationship with an adult child that has become strained beyond recognition. A parent whose behaviour you do not know how to manage anymore. Siblings who have not spoken since a falling out years ago. A household where the same argument happens over and over without ever resolving.
Family conflict is one of the most common reasons people seek psychological support. Research from the Australian Institute of Family Studies found that family relationship difficulties are associated with significantly elevated rates of depression, anxiety, and reduced wellbeing in both adults and children [1]
All families experience conflict. Disagreement, tension, and occasional arguments are a normal part of living closely with others across different stages of life and with different needs. Family conflict becomes a concern when it is frequent, intense, unresolved, or when it significantly affects the wellbeing of any family member.
Family conflict is often maintained by patterns of communication that have developed over years or decades. These patterns, such as criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and withdrawal, were identified by researcher John Gottman as the strongest predictors of relationship deterioration [2]. Understanding these patterns is the first step toward changing them.
Family conflict may show up as:
A review published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry found that children exposed to ongoing family conflict show elevated rates of emotional and behavioural difficulties, including anxiety, depression, and difficulties with peer relationships [3]. Addressing family conflict has significant protective effects for the mental health of every family member involved.
Children are acutely sensitive to the emotional atmosphere of their home. Even when parents or caregivers believe they are shielding children from conflict, children frequently perceive and absorb tension, hostility, and distress in the household.
Children affected by family conflict may show increased anxiety, sleep difficulties, withdrawal, school refusal, behavioural issues, or physical complaints such as stomach aches. Adolescents may align strongly with one parent, withdraw from the family entirely, or act out in ways that draw attention away from the underlying conflict.
At Chrysalis Psychology & Wellbeing, we provide individual therapy for children and young people affected by family conflict, as well as family-level support to address the dynamics driving the tension, alongside support for behavioural issues and emotion regulation.
Adults experiencing ongoing family conflict frequently describe feelings of exhaustion, resentment, helplessness, and grief. The chronic stress of a difficult family environment can contribute to anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties, and physical health problems. Many adults also experience significant guilt about the impact of family conflict on their children.
At Chrysalis Psychology & Wellbeing, our team of psychologists in Hobart work with adults experiencing family conflict, whether through individual therapy to build communication skills and manage their own responses, or through family-level work to address shared patterns. Our telehealth psychology service is available Australia-wide.
Our support for family conflict is practical, evidence-based, and tailored to the specific dynamics and goals of your family.
Sessions with our psychologists are available face-to-face at our Battery Point rooms in Hobart, Tasmania, and via telehealth for clients anywhere in Australia. We accept Medicare Mental Health Treatment Plans, NDIS (self-managed and plan-managed), DVA, Open Arms, National Redress Scheme, and private health insurance. Self-referral is also welcome.
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