Family life can be safe and loving but it can also be difficult or disappointing at times. Conflict with individual members can evoke tension. Changes in life circumstances such as divorce, illness, bereavement or financial pressures can cause stress within a family. Family counselling can help by providing a non-judgemental space for each family member to explore their feelings. A family therapist might meet with the family as a group, or with individual members. Family therapy can be beneficial in situations of strained relationships as the therapist can work as a mediator between all parties. This therefore facilitates a respectful environment. It subsequently can improve communication by ensuring that each family member feels heard. Feelings can be expressed and solutions explored in a safe and contained environment to resolve difficulties. At The Eaves, our specialist family therapists will remain neutral and non-judgemental at all times. The goal of therapy is to help you and your family become stronger, to improve relationships and also learn new ways of relating to each other.
How your family counselling sessions work really depend on your counsellor and your
family’s needs. It subsequently can improve communication by ensuring that each family
member feels heard. Your family therapist might meet with you as a group, or with
individual members.
Seeking counselling as a family can help establish the events that have led to the family
needing help. These might include life events, transitions or repeating patterns. Family
problems might be mapped out to show their history and development and allow
members to feel clearer about the problems and how they might have arisen, reducing
blame.
Just as with individual therapy, when a family reaches out for therapeutic support, it is
often in regard to a particular presenting concern. At times, this can centre around one
individual that has been identified as problematic and is causing stress on the family,
however often the issue can be shown to be a communication breakdown between two
or more members.