fb

Family Therapy and Consultation Services

Jul 2024 | children, lifestyle, mental wellness, resources, teenagers

Hollywood actor and Parkinson’s disease activist Michael J. Fox once said, “Family is not an important thing, it is everything.” For many of us, family life is every bit as rewarding as it is challenging. This comes as no surprise, as living together with individuals of various personalities and quirks can sometimes give rise to friction in relationship. 

Family therapy and consultation services provide a platform for you and your loved ones to find a common ground where you might work through any issues faced. These sessions will be conducted by experienced mental health therapists, and offer you and your family members a safe and accepting space where you can be transparent. 

Recognizing the Need for Family Therapy 

Family therapy involves sessions attended by more than one individual, usually from the same family unit. This can be parents and their children, spouses, siblings or distant relatives who live together. 

Family therapy allows these individuals to work through relationship barriers, resolve conflict or navigate mental health issues. Contrary to certain beliefs, therapy is not limited to those suffering from officially diagnosed mental conditions. The approaches in family therapy can also help heal and resolve any challenges the family faces, such as: 

  • Inter-generational conflict resolution among family members of different age groups
  • Working through common challenges faced by family members, such as financial difficulties
  • Healing from the loss of a loved one, or other circumstances that have caused the family grief 
  • Working through a divorce or separation 
  • Strengthening and improving communication 
  • Resolving jealousy/insecurity between family members 
  • Sorting out differences in religious or racial backgrounds within the family 
  • Managing post-traumatic stress, such as experiencing accidents or severe aerial turbulence
  • Navigating through the chronic illness of a family member
  • Rebuilding the relationships of estranged family members
  • Healing from verbal, physical or psychological abuse
  • Build understanding in the face of sexual orientation conflicts
  • Parents who need help with their child’s behavioural issues

These are some of the situations where family therapy may be able to offer help. In general, the goal of family therapy is to improve the way in which a family functions and cater to the mental health and wellbeing of each member, whether it is  restructuring unhelpful attitudes or transforming unhealthy interaction patterns. In these sessions, we help family members explore their relationship dynamics, reinforcing their individual strengths whilst working towards stronger, healthier family bonds. 

Different Approaches in Family Therapy 

Family therapy can take on several forms, according to the different needs of a family unit and can involve couple, group or child therapy.  Often these forms are adopted depending on the needs and specific objectives for each family.  Here are some of the therapy modalities that can be used for family therapy:

Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TFCBT)

TFCBT was developed in the 1990s as a treatment for children suffering from the effects of childhood sexual abuse. It has since been enhanced to treat younger family members who have undergone trauma, abuse and bullying of any kind. Non-offending caregivers or parents, in whom the child trusts, are often brought in to join the family therapy session together, in order to support the child’s healing and mental recovery. 

In this approach, participants will be encouraged to normalise any feelings of hurt, fear or guilt they may carry. They will also be taught to develop helpful coping skills, emotional regulation skills and cognitive processing skills which will allow them to re-contextualise unhelpful thoughts. 

Attachment-Based Therapy 

The Attachment Based approach relies on the theory that much of our adult behaviour, thoughts and feelings stem from our early attachment experiences with our primary caregiver. In this method, participants will be allowed to explore their memories and realise the limiting effects of their negative experiences. They will be guided to discover any unhealthy attachment patterns they may have developed from these interactions, and be led to adopt more positive perceptions, thoughts and behaviours to achieve better mental resilience. 

Structural Family Therapy 

Structural Family therapy functions on the principle that every family has a structure, especially in terms of power hierarchies, family boundaries and reactions to different challenges. Through group sessions, we help explore what these family structures are and introduce positive adjustments to the elements which are causing dysfunction. 

In order for structural family therapy to be effective, more family members have to be willing to participate as it concerns the family dynamics. Additionally, each family member has to demonstrate a willingness to share their thoughts and feelings in a transparent and honest manner, without reservations or fear. Effective sessions can help bring families together, strengthening their bonds and levels of communication.

Solution-focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) 

SFBT is a unique approach to addressing family issues, where participants work with a therapist to build solutions rather than problem solve. This strategy focuses on the strengths of each individual, guiding them to look at present circumstances and plan ways to achieve a desired future. 

SFBT falls under a series of approaches known as ‘Constructivism’ which suggests that all individuals have the ability to make their own reality. Whilst most therapies focus on past experiences and connecting them to present circumstances, SFBT draws attention on how you can actualise your ideals into reality. It involves exploring your desires, strengths and resources to look at how things can be better. 

Final Thoughts 

To quote George Santayana, the Spanish-American philosopher, essayist, poet, and novelist, “family is one of nature’s masterpieces.” They are the people we cherish and hold dear, always present in moments of joy and hardship. 

Family therapy can help rebuild trust, heal broken bonds, and, in general, solve problems that hinder healthy, functional relationships. 

Reach out to us today to book a session. If you are uncertain as to which of our services aligns with your needs, our helpful staff are ready to help provide any information you may need to make an informed decision.