This article was co-authored by Klare Heston, LCSW and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman. Klare Heston is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker based in Cleveland, Ohio. With experience in academic counseling and clinical supervision, Klare received her Master of Social Work from the Virginia Commonwealth University in 1983. She also holds a 2-Year Post-Graduate Certificate from the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland, as well as certification in Family Therapy, Supervision, Mediation, and Trauma Recovery and Treatment (EMDR).
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Whether they’re a member of your household or a visitor around the holidays, difficult family members can take a toll on your mental and emotional well-being. Thankfully, simple strategies like setting boundaries, using “I” statements, and practicing empathy can go a long way when you’re dealing with negative relatives. We’ll walk you through all these approaches and more (including when it’s time to pull the plug on a familial relationship), so you can confidently put yourself and your needs first in toxic family scenarios.