The identified patient is a concept from family systems therapy that describes the person unconsciously chosen to carry a family’s unresolved tension and dysfunction. Sometimes mistaken for the family scapegoat, the identified patient can also be the “sick child,” the rebel, or the perfectionist. Understanding this role within dysfunctional family systems sheds light on how families project problems onto one member instead of addressing deeper conflict. By exploring the differences between family scapegoating and the identified patient, we see how these patterns are maintained across generations—and how they can be interrupted. With awareness and tools for healing family trauma, individuals can step out of these roles, break and heal family patterns, and reclaim an identity.