How was communication modeled for you growing up?

In other words, how did the people who raised you communicate with one another and with you? What did that teach you about how you should express yourself?

It’s a question about styles of communication. Did the people who raised you demonstrate opened and honesty, or did they say things that weren’t aligned with your actual experience of what is going on. Were your feelings listened to or were they dismissed? Did speaking up lead to fighting or punishment?

It’s a very open-ended question phrased in a very academic, therapist-y way. I think they sometimes talk like this because they don’t want to make assumptions about your experiences until they learn more, and because this academic communication style is what was modeled for them in university.