{
  "id": 384189,
  "title": "I was a New York psychologist who thought I understood families. Then I moved to Wichita.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/09/i-was-a-new-york-psychologist-who-thought-i-understood-families-then",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-09T13:55:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Insider",
    "slug": "business-insider",
    "url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/how-different-successful-families-can-look-midwest-nyc-psychologist-2026-8"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "I, a psychologist who had previously worked with families and children in New York City, discovered that my understanding of family systems was limited after moving to Wichita, Kansas. In Wichita, I witnessed how families could thrive in vastly different ways from those I had observed in the fast-paced, achievement-oriented environment of New York City. The drive-thru line at a Chick-fil-A stretched around the block with oversized SUVs at 10 a.m. on a Tuesday, showcasing a different energy than what I was used to. Wichita's landscape, featuring flat vistas and the threat of tornadoes, contrasted with the urban scenery I was accustomed to. Sunday mornings in Wichita were quiet, with people at church or attending to personal commitments, creating a different rhythm compared to New York City, where brunch reservations and open inboxes were the norm. People in Wichita spoke more directly, meaning what they said and said what they meant, which was a refreshing change from the indirect communication I experienced on the East and West Coasts. Professionally, Wichita challenged me to reevaluate my assumptions about family health and functioning, teaching me that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to family dynamics. It is essential to understand and respect the roots that shape a family, rather than imposing a standard of what a healthy family should look like based on one's own experiences or geographical context. No matter where I am based, I now ask parents about their family's origins during intake sessions, recognizing that these influences shape their values, beliefs, and communication patterns.",
  "summary": "Moving from New York City to Wichita, Kansas, helped change my perspective on successful families and on how culture impacts how we grow up.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}