03/02/2026
The black sheep unconsciously becomes the family’s source of blame. They help remove other family members from facing things they want to avoid. The clinical term is the identified patient.
This role is extremely common and prolific in society.
Many people feel intense shame and rejection because they’re seen as the “problem” for wanting to be healthier, to have boundaries, or to not going along with dysfunctional dynamics.
If you’re the black sheep, this is your encouragement to keep going. To keep healing, and to keep breaking generational cycles.
Comments are a place to share your own experiences
The Holistic Psychologist
