This article describes and analyzes the family with (pathological) symbiotic relations. The characteristics of the family are formulated both from the psychodynamic and the systems-theoretical framework. It is postulated that within these families interaction patterns exist which have been formed throughout several generations. In certain stages of the life cycles these patterns are strongly interwoven with an emerging crisis or with chronic problems. The relation between family-interactional and individual problems is briefly discussed. Finally, a number of therapeutic implications of the described theoretical orientation is mentioned.