Family Conflict

Family Conflict is defined as a pattern of recurring tension, disagreement, or friction within a family system that disrupts its healthy functioning and emotional cohesion. Rather than viewing it as an isolated event, the American Counseling Association (ACA) and systems-based frameworks see it as a breakdown in communication and boundary-setting that affects the "family unit" as a whole. It typically involves a struggle over power, values, or resources and is categorized by its impact on individual development and the overall stability of the household. Counselors identify this conflict when interpersonal stressors exceed the family’s collective ability to cope, often requiring interventions to re-establish healthy roles and conflict-resolution skills.