Why would a qualified, ethical therapist support their client’s decision to estrange from their family? Aren’t families sacred relationships that must be preserved at all costs? Not always. In fact, family estrangement can be beneficial to many people in therapy.

Here are three common reasons why therapists might support family estrangement.

Without safety, therapists have little foundation to stand upon. Clients who are not safe or who feel unsafe in therapy are unlikely to benefit or progress, even with the most sophisticated evidence-based treatments. This is why ethical clinicians prioritize their responsibility to establish and maintain safety above all else, including the need to prevent or mitigate family estrangements.

Safety is impossible without agency. If clients are not allowed to make choices about their own lives, including who has access to them, they feel unsafe, and the therapeutic relationship collapses. Suppose they feel pressured by a therapist to maintain contact with someone against their wishes. In that case, their

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