In case one or more members of the family refuses to speak with the rest, it’s clearly a challenge ‘to patch things up’. If there was one event which caused the family to disintegrate, it is important to work through this, to discuss it, maybe reach the stage where every member can tell why he or she reacted the way they did, who was hurt and why. Sometimes it needs so time and distance to discuss these events. It is important that every family member treats the other with respect; insults, shouting and slamming doors might release tension, but hardly point to a longterm solution.