In case you have been wondering what family therapy counseling is, then you do not need to worry any more. I will take you through what it is all about and the reasons why you may seek a session or two.
What is Family Therapy counseling?
Family Therapy Counseling- It is a branch of psychotherapy that works with families and couples in intimate relationships to nurture change development. It is also referred to as couple and family therapy, marriage and family therapy counseling. It involves working with the members of a family to solve a group or individual problem. It helps family members improve communication and resolve conflicts by improving the way family members interact with each other.
How does Family Counseling work?
Working with a therapist to solve problems can take place on an individual basis or in a group setting, which involves all members of the family seeing a therapist.
It is most often used to help treat an individual’s problem that is affecting the family. This is possible because it’s based on the belief that the family is a unique social system with its own structure and patterns of communication.
These patterns are determined by many things including parents’ beliefs and values, the personalities of all family members and the influence of the extended family. As a result of these variables, each family develops its own unique personality, which is powerful and affects all of its members.
Also family therapy counseling is based on the concept that illness in one family member may be a symptom of a larger family problem. Therefore to treat only the member who is identified as ill is like treating the symptom of a disease but not the disease itself In addition family therapy counseling is based on the concept that a change in one member of the family affects both the family structure and each member individually.
When can it be used?
So, when is it necessary for a family to seek therapy counseling? Family therapy has been used successfully to treat many different types of families in different situations. Here are the top reasons why families go to counseling:
The black sheep
Counselors use the term “identified patient” to describe the family member that is being blamed for the family problems as a whole. It can be used to explain a rebellious teenager, the alcoholic dad or the ADHD younger sister. Their activities are disrupting the family balance, hence many families will go for counseling because the black sheep of the family has been such a negative influence on the well being of the entire family.
Loss of a loved one
A family that is mourning will often need counseling maximally. They need to cope with the stages of grief by seeking counseling and guidance in coping with the loss. Grief that is not handled appropriately can turn into depression and will cause more problems in the future.
To solve conflicts
Many families struggle to keep appropriate boundaries within their relationships with one another and outside the family. However conflicts are inevitable in any social setting and therefore a family can still emerge stronger by walking together through a dispute. Family counseling teaches the family members to interact better and communicate better thus improving their relationships.
Long- term illness
When a family member has long- term (chronic) mental illness or substance abuse problem such as severe depression or an alcohol problem it is often necessary for the other family members to seek counseling in order to cope with the lifestyle changes.
To prevent a crisis
It is said that prevention is better than cure; a family may therefore also find family therapy useful before problems begin. A good example is a man and woman who both have children from previous marriages, they may go to family counseling when they marry to help all family members learn how they live and interact with each other amicably.
After all is said and done, family therapy counseling is not a bad idea. It will help tremendously in identifying conflicts and anxieties and help a family develop the strategies to solve them.
