Disagreements and problems are part of normal family life and experienced by all families. They can usually be sorted out by talking and do not have a severe impact on anyone’s well-being. Sometimes, however, families may have problems that they cannot process and settle without some help. Family therapy aims to create new perspectives that help the family members understand the circumstances and factors behind the problems.
Various factors can create the need for family therapy
Problems hindering the interaction between family members may impact the well-being of the entire family. Mental disorders in the family may often cause problems. In these types of situation, professional help is usually particularly necessary and family therapy can be used as a more extensive treatment of one family member.
Changes in circumstances may also inspire families to seek therapy. Such changes include childbirth, parenting issues, growing old and the relationship between the parents. Larger crises, such as the death of a family member, are also common reasons for seeking family therapy.
Family therapy gives families the tools to solve their problems
The purpose of family therapy is to help the family solve the situation by finding new and better ways of interacting and by developing communication between the family members. In therapy, a professional observes the interaction between the family members and interviews them in order to locate the potential causes of the issues. The therapist’s questions help the family understand the problem and come up with potential solutions. The therapist is on everyone’s side, does not blame anyone and aims to help each person participating in the therapy to the best of their ability.
Family therapy can be attended alone, in pairs or with the entire family. The duration and frequency of the appointment varies between different customers, and the therapist forms a plan after assessing the family’s needs.
