To many Filipino families, connection is integral to keeping them together. Yet, many of them still do not fully understand what healthy communication in the family looks like.

In recent years, local mental health advocates have spoken about how family values and expectations can sometimes be used to place pressure on family members to meet certain standards of what a “good” child or a “good” parent should be.

When these expectations go unexamined, they may contribute to misunderstandings, strained relationships, blurred boundaries, and unhealthy family dynamics. One such dynamic that we’ll explore is Enmeshment.