Co-dependency is often framed as an individual issue—something to “fix” by becoming more independent. At MLC, we take a different approach. We recognize that co-dependent patterns don’t happen in a vacuum—they are deeply shaped by family roles, cultural expectations, systemic oppression, and survival strategies developed in response to trauma.
Many traditional definitions of co-dependency fail to acknowledge:
- Cultural & Collective Care: In many cultures, interdependence is a core value, and what Western psychology calls “co-dependency” may actually be community-based care rather than dysfunction.
- Survival Responses: Co-dependent patterns often emerge from childhood parentification, trauma, or growing up in environments where care was conditional or unavailable.
- Oppression & Power Dynamics: For marginalized people—especially women, BIPOC, and queer folks—learning to prioritize others over oneself is often a learned survival skill, not a personal flaw.
Our approach to co-dependency focuses on:
- Shifting from survival-based care to mutual care—honoring your capacity for connection while setting sustainable boundaries.
- Exploring where these patterns come from—without shame or pathologization.
- Healing attachment wounds and unlearning the idea that your worth is based on how much you care for or accommodate others.
Healing from co-dependency isn’t about rejecting connection—it’s about learning how to engage in relationships where you can give and receive care in ways that feel balanced, reciprocal, and nourishing.
