She has experienced her husband’s fits of rage and his disinterest in sex as signs of her incompetence and lack of appeal as an aging spouse.

For years now, Allie has suffered from feelings of sadness, hopelessness and low self-worth, becoming increasingly removed from family time and less responsive to her children’s feelings and needs.

Allie has not slept well in years. She has a poor appetite. She feels ashamed and uncomfortable with her body.

Brett feels ashamed for the times when he loses control and yells at his wife, causing him to avoid her during calmer times.

Brett has run up a substantial credit card debt to accommodate his excessive drinking and social habits. He has begun to worry that his wife, Allie, is going to learn of his delinquent accounts.

Brett feels out of control in respect to his family relationships: bouncing between isolation, due to shame and regret, and childish playfulness in a desperate attempt to reconnect with his wife and children.

Madison is angry and unapproachable in the home: reflecting the anger and unpredictability in her parents’ relationship.

After some initial experimentation, she has developed a regular cocaine habit, both as a way to rebel against her family’s very traditional values and in an attempt to feel some control over her ups and downs.

Seeing herself as her mother’s child, Madison, too, has developed body image issues: now showing through in restrictive eating habits which may lead to anorexia.

His lack of security with his parents has led to strong feelings of anxiety, even at this young age.

Jackson has learned to avoid asking for help in the family, believing that his father’s and sister’s problems are more important than his own.

With no outlet for his worries, Jackson’s feelings have turned inward and now affect his health with digestive problems, poor sleep and frequent headaches.