Ann J Holabird, LMFT

As a family systems therapist for over 20 years, I believe that our family of origin plays a major role in shaping our thoughts, beliefs, values and most importantly, our coping mechanisms. Defined as behaviors, cognitions, and perceptions that we engage when contending with intense stressors, coping skills aren't exclusively developed out of trauma. They can be shaped from something as simple as being the oldest, youngest, middle, first-generation or only child. Difficulties arise, however, when we leave the original family system and enter new relationships. Our primary coping skills, and the familiar roles we played in our family system, just aren't serving us as well as they had in the past. Together, we can explore these ways of coping and the roles played in our family of origin in order to find new, growth-oriented solutions to life's present stressors.