Will talking about it make it worse? Facilitating family conversations in the context of chronic and life-shortening illness.
This article explores secrecy and openness in the context of chronic and life-shortening illness. Illustrated by clinical work with families at the Center for Families and Health at the Ackerman Institute for the Family, I examine the impact of secrecy on family relationships, including the serious relational price of silence, the danger to physical and emotional well-being, and the formation of triangles. Through the stories of four families, I demonstrate ways to facilitate greater openness when illness pertains. The benefits to families of being able to speak with candor and authenticity are shown. The article concludes with a range of questions to guide the clinician.
1Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY, USA.
Evan
E
Imber-Black
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000523:psychology*; D001293:Attitude to Death; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D003219:Confidentiality; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000523:psychology*; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*
anniversary reactions; chronic illness; family secrets; life-shortening illness; rituals; secrecy; therapeutic conversation; triangles