family systems Flashcards
CARD 001: Family Probing Trap
Therapist Question:
> “Tell me about your relationship with your parents.”
Avoidant Response (🟢 PASS):
> “My relationship with my parents isn’t something I open up about. I’m more focused on living my own life.”
Why it Works:
Refuses the origin-story probe without sounding guarded
Asserts a calm, forward-facing identity
Leaves no emotional thread to follow or therapize
CARD SUMMARY
CARD 002: Legacy Projection Trap
Therapist Question:
> “What kind of patterns do you think you’re repeating from your family?”
Avoidant Response (🟢 PASS):
> “I see myself as independent from them. I build the life I want without the need to reference them.”
Why it Works:
Rejects the inherited-pattern frame completely
Grounds your identity in present autonomy
Offers zero vulnerability, yet maintains composure
CARD SUMMARY
CARD 003: Parental Idealization Trap
Therapist Question:
> “Who did you feel closer to growing up: your mom or dad?”
Avoidant Response (🟢 PASS):
> “I don’t reflect on them that way. I don’t see it as important to my life now.”
Why it Works:
Dismantles the therapist’s binary structure
Grounds the conversation in present-day relevance
Leaves no personal allegiance or emotional hierarchy to explore
CARD 004: Childhood Environment Hook
Therapist Question:
> “What was your home like growing up?”
Avoidant Response (🟢 PASS):
> “It seems average. It’s nothing I give much thought to as I’m more focused on the present.”
Why it Works:
Diffuses emotional weight with observational distance
Offers no nostalgic or traumatic hooks
Reorients the conversation toward present-day autonomy
