ABSTRACT
Family estrangement is often an historic and intergenerational phenomenon. It is rare for estrangement to exist between two individuals without affecting broader family relationships. It is rare for family estrangement to occur in one generation without affecting the next. Rather, families carry their losses – and particularly the legacy of unresolved losses – across the generations. Historic losses, including relationship dissolutions, become a part of the generational narrative and they influence the expectations, strategies and coping mechanisms of each family member. This chapter explores the labyrinthine issues that establish, maintain and connect estrangement throughout the family tree. It commences with a commentary on three primary types of intergenerational estrangements: (i) the inherited estrangement, where estrangements are passed on from previous generations; (ii) the secondary estrangement, which is instigated when family members take sides after a primary estrangement has occurred; and (iii) the self-protective estrangement, which is enacted by an estranged person in order to further maintain their safety or privacy. The chapter explores the importance of intergenerational connections and the potential losses associated with estrangement. It also examines the potentially risky ways that some families attempt to recreate a sense of family and place after estrangement. Finally, a practice section encourages the reader or client to critically evaluate the effects of estrangement on the intergenerational family.
