employment

Employment refers to the relationship between a person and their paid work, including the roles, environments, and dynamics that come with holding a job. In therapy, it is often examined as a significant domain of identity, self-worth, stress, and relational pattern repetition.

For trauma survivors and adult children of dysfunctional families, employment can activate old wounds—authority triggers, perfectionism, fear of criticism, overworking, imposter feelings, or trouble with boundaries and advocacy. Workplaces can also recreate familiar family dynamics, from scapegoating and enmeshment to toxic leadership. Clinical work explores how early templates shape current work life and supports skills like assertive communication, sustainable pacing, healthy ambition, and choosing environments that align with values and wellbeing.