Abstract
Codependency (CD) is a concept that initially emerged in the addictions field in the 1970s to address unhealthy family relations that occurred as a result of substance dependencies. Despite several feminist critiques of the concept around 1990, the CD self-help movement has continued to grow, resulting in over one million hits on an online search today. In this article, we reopen the debate about the therapeutic utility of CD by supporting previous feminist critiques, and by providing an updated critique that addresses societal shifts in gender roles and the movement in family law toward decision making in the best interests of the child. Recommendations are made for frontline social service workers who use and/or work with people who use the CD concept.
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