Preobrazhenskaya Svetlana Sergeevna
Clinical psychologist, Systemic family therapist
Autonomous Non-Profit Organization “Institute for Integrative Family Therapy”
Tula, Russia
preobrajenskaya-svetlana@familyland.ru+79207478121
Key words: a family member’s imprisonment; stigma; therapist’s reflection; systemic dynamics; family therapy
AbstractThe author examines one of the most stigmatized topics in family therapy - the impact of a family member’s imprisonment on their loved ones. The report analyzes the phenomenon of the “excluded prisoner,” which emerges from social stigma and a familial “conspiracy of silence.” A clinical example illustrates how the therapist’s own “blind spots” and fears surrounding the topic of incarceration may intensify this dynamic. The report offers recommendations for breaking this vicious cycle of silence and creating space for supporting the family.