Prolonged exposure to traumatic experiences within the primary family environment has a profound impact on an individual’s psychological well-being and interpersonal relationships, particularly the mother-daughter relationship. While a mother is expected to provide security and emotional support, in such cases, she is often emotionally unavailable or even complicit in the abuse. As a result, the daughter develops deep-seated feelings of rejection, insecurity, and helplessness. These patterns significantly affect her attachment style, perception of her mother, and ability to establish trusting relationships
in adulthood. This master's thesis examines how a daughter’s perception of her mother and her capacity for relationship-building evolve through the therapeutic process. The study is based on a qualitative analysis of an interview with a woman who experienced prolonged family trauma during childhood. Findings indicate that such traumatic experiences have a detrimental effect on the daughter’s ability to form secure attachments, manifesting in heightened anxiety, avoidance behaviors, and difficulties in emotional regulation. The therapeutic process emerges as a crucial factor in reshaping the daughter's relationship with her mother and her self-perception. By facilitating gradual emotional processing and providing a secure environment, therapy enables the development of healthier coping strategies for past traumas and opens the possibility for more balanced and fulfilling interpersonal relationships in the future.
|
