Family Therapy
Family Therapy
Family Therapy
Family therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on the family system and the relationships that are created within it.
It aims at helping family members resolve the hardships and sufferings of the entire family unit or just one of its members. In fact, when a person feels and experiences discomfort, especially if it is a child or a teenager, the suffering (psychosomatic, behavioral or psychological) inevitably affects the whole family system.
The role of the Family Therapist is mainly to listen, recognize and address the family dynamics while meeting the family in a safe, warm and non-judgemental space. When the suffering of the Family system is acknowledged and once it’s possible to give it a meaning, it can be an extraordinary driving force for change and recovery for everyone within the Family.
Why A Family Therapy?
When can Family Therapy help?
Family Therapy is indicated for:
- Difficulty communicating or expressing emotions;
- Conflicts between siblings;
- Inconsistent parenting;
- Marital problems;
- Wanting to develop a healthy relationship following a divorce;
- Adapting to a major change;
- Dealing with a chronic illness or death in the family.
These are some critical events that the family system normally manages to absorb and reorganize independently; however, when the system’s natural self-healing capacity becomes jammed, the help of therapy can come into play.
How does Family Therapy work?
Initially, an assessment focuses on the family history of origin as well as the current family structure and its support network. This assessment also focuses on interpersonal relationships within the Family system while keeping the focus on the difficulties that lead people to ask for professional help.
Everyone can freely state the reason(s) for their discomfort and a request for therapy is usually agreed on, a request that is clear and concrete and will be aimed at changing the family, relational and communication dynamics.
Subsequently, on the basis of the working clinical hypotheses, an attempt is made to make communication more fluid and flexible, lightening the so-called “block” or “stalemate” situations.
To be able to carry out a good-enough family therapy, the contribution of each of the family members is essential.
Benefits of Family Therapy
- Developing healthy boundaries;
- Improving communication;
- Defining someone’s role within the family;
- Improving family dynamics and relationships;
- Providing strength and coping tools for family members;
- Addressing dysfunctional interactions;
- Improving the family’s problem-solving abilities;
- Being able to be together as a Family