Many of my clients grew up in families in which the children took care of
their parents' needs rather than the other way around. There are a number of
things that can lead to this sort of situation, including parental alcoholism,
mental illness, or chronic physical illness.

One of my favorite parts of my counseling practice is leading counseling
groups for people who grew up families like this. The group members
hear the others tell stories about their lives, and they realize that they’ve
all had similar experiences. They find support and deep connections, and
they help one another to overcome the effects of their childhoods.