Family therapy
Our family impacts the kind of person we become and how we see the world around us. We learn what it means to be cared for and how to communicate from the primary caregivers in our family. If we are born into a family with dysfunctional communication patterns, we might struggle in connecting with others as well.
As a result of learning those dysfunctional patterns in the context of family, we might find it difficult to feel understood and heard. Family therapy can be effective in improving the mental health of each family member by providing support and teaching the necessary tools for developing healthy relationships with each member of the family.
What is Family Therapy?
Family therapy helps people to develop and maintain healthy relationships with one another. Family therapy is a form of group psychotherapy that is designed to address problems that impact the functioning of the family s a unit. The assumption behind family counseling is that we can only solve problems within the family when we understand the dynamics of the family system as a whole.
It is important to understand that when we use the term “family” it does not necessarily mean that we are referring to blood relatives. The family in this context is defined as a group of people who care about one another and play a long-term supportive role in each other’s lives.
What can Family Therapy Help With?
Family therapy can help with a variety of family issues. Some of these problems include:
- Conflicts between parents and children
- Conflicts between siblings
- Parenting or Co-parenting difficulties
- Major life transitions or stressful events
- Shared Trauma
- Behavioral problems
- Communication difficulties
- Grief or loss of a family member
- Rekindling connections with estranged or isolated family members
- Conflict management
- When one member of the family is dealing with a mental health issue or needs more support from the family
What are some different types of family therapy?
- Systemic family therapy
- Cognitive behavioral family therapy
- Structural family therapy
- Transgenerational therapy
How does family therapy work?
Family therapy helps members to work true painful and uncomfortable emotions in a safe environment. This kind of therapy focuses on improving the patterns of interaction between family members. In a therapy session, your family therapist may:
- Explore dysfunctional patterns of communication
- Hope family members develop empathy for one another
- Explore and identify each person’s role in the family system
- Help family members in developing problem-solving skills
- Assist family members to understand each person’s beliefs, expectations, needs, and hopes
- Encourage everyone to express themselves in a healthy manner
- Help each member to talk about some of the challenges they are facing
- Provide support for families working through their goals
- Help with processing past trauma
What do you need to consider before starting family therapy?
Because family therapy involves talking about family issues, it could potentially bring up painful and uncomfortable emotions that may have been suppressed for a long time. It is important to work with a professional marriage or family therapist to help work through these difficulties in a non-judgmental and safe environment.
How to get started
Family therapy is usually a short-term intervention. However, depending on the severity of the problems and the needs of each family member, it might take longer to reach the desired goals. While it usually involves all family members, it can also take place with members who are willing to show up for each other during therapy sessions. Here at Emergence Psychotherapy, trained psychotherapists assist you in improving the quality of your relationships with your loved ones. We are a group of mental health professionals based in Toronto offering compassionate, personalized treatment tailored to the needs of your family. Reaching out for help is a courageous step in your journey towards healing.