The Secret to Making Family Relationships Strong and Normal

As a counselor for over 15 years, I often hear the expressed hope for a “normal family”. Normal is conforming with a type, standard, or regular pattern. The concept of a conforming teenaged youth may appear an oxymoron yet the requirement for equilibrium and normalcy is not. With such clients, I assess their perception of a “normal family”. Answers change, but I find that strong and productive families share similar dynamics including the enforcement of rules, clear communication, and acceptance of change.