Family Therapy

What is Family Therapy?

Family Therapy (sometimes also referred to as systemic therapy) is a type of psychotherapy which helps family members address issues that may have arisen amongst them, listen to and understand each other better, change negative behaviours, or resolve conflicts between family members.
As well as assisting a family in managing through difficult or stressful times, it can teach skills which will can be used in the future to deepen connections between family members and improve relationships longer term. Family therapy may include all the family members or just those who are willing to participate.

Family therapy can help to address a range of issues which can arise within a family unit. This can include single issues which may be impacting on other members of the family or be an issue which has a more broad affect on the unit and the family members.

Examples of situations where family therapy can help are:

• family conflicts.
• relationship breakdown.
• family marital problems.
• sexual abuse.
• financial difficulties.
• issues around misuse and the impact of this.
• mental illness.
• disability or chronic illness.
• ageing parents.
• trauma.
• loss.

When we are faced with difficulty, we often try to cope as an individual at first and can overlook the effect on the broader family unit of what is being dealt with. Also we can fail to understanding if other family members’ reactions and coping mechanisms are not in line with our own and misjudgements and misunderstandings can sometimes arise.

A family therapist can facilitate listening to each other’s opinions and experiences with a more open mind and a more open heart to achieve greater understanding and compassion for each other. Family therapy is not about apportioning blame but is about trying to gain greater understanding of each other and finding a positive way forward which can help and support these important connections in our lives.

Some of the outcomes of Family Therapy can include:

• improved communication between family members.
• greater tolerance, understanding and compassion for each other.
• better problem solving between family members.
• greater cohesion within the family unit.
• reduction in family conflict.

During family therapy, the therapist will give everyone time to speak and the duration of the sessions can vary and can be agreed between the therapist and the family. The frequency of sessions can can also be discussed and agreed. Family therapists do not work exclusively with an entire family – they may work with children and adults individually or in smaller groups or with couples depending on the needs and circumstances of the family unit.