Breakdown in communication, mistrust, crisis … can arise in the healthiest of families, resulting in challenging, frustrating, and painful interactions among family members.
From trivial irritations to deep buried resentments, from explosive arguments to underlying feelings of guilt and disappointment that we didn’t even know we had, our families often bring up the most intense emotions that we ever experience, both those of joy and of deep pain. Family issues counselling looks at addressing the issues when your family relationships feel strained, uncomfortable or have reached a point of crisis.
Family relationship issues counselling: Common challenges and frustrations
We hope we can always rely on our family for support, encouragement, and honest feedback, for whom we can feel love and concern, and with whom we can feel close and comfortable and able to openly share thoughts and feelings.
In reality, few families meet this expectation all the time, and often family relationships are far from ideal, associated instead with stress, misunderstanding, anger, disconnection, and unmet needs.
Often our understanding and responses to others is from our early exposure to our family of origin, we develop our expectations of others, communication skills, outlook on life, ability to give and receive love, and coping skills, among innumerable other traits, and chronic family problems can have lasting effects.
Current day family issues can arise when we get into the habit of playing a particular role with members of our family which gets in the way of authentic communication and emotional satisfaction. In family issues therapy, during counselling sessions, we will look at patterns of behaviour and the history of the relationship and practise communicating in a “level” way. In this way you will find more adult ways of behaving that work better for you.
What sort of problems does family relationship counselling help with?
Family problems from trivial to severe will challenge every family at some point. These can result from behavioural and mental health issues in the family or from a specific or stressful event.
Common family problems include:
- Separation, divorce, or blended family adjustments
- Behavioural issues and academic concerns in children and adolescents
- Mental health concerns
- Financial issues
- Grief
- Alcohol or substance abuse
- Chronic illness
Whatever the trigger, stressful or painful family dynamics can greatly restrict the happy, enjoyable existence of every family member impacting on each family member’s mental and physical health and social or work relationships.
Counselling for family relationships & Family Counselling at City Therapy Rooms
Whether as an individual you are having issues with your family or if you are having problems as a family unit, whatever’s causing them, Family Counselling can help the whole family to communicate better, and to understand and resolve differences.
When families go through a crisis which causes change, it can be difficult to learn to adapt. Counselling can help family members through these difficult times, supporting each other, to reduce conflict and arguments and grow stronger as a result.
Please feel free to chat on the telephone to a few therapists or to meet several before deciding who you would like to work with. The initial session is an opportunity for both you and the therapist to decide if you would like to work together.
Therapists who work specifically with family dynamics issues are: Emma Pearson, Laura Solomons, Lottie Boswell, Silvia Lautier
Pesso Boyden Personal Therapy
You may be suffering from past trauma from childhood. Pesso Boyden Personal Therapy is an alternative ‘ body/mind’ therapy that can resolve deep-rooted disappointments and feelings that follow past family traumas.
© Brian Cotsen
