HEALTHY FAMILY TIES WITH FAMILY THERAPY & COUNSELLING
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What is Family Therapy?
Family therapy, also known as family counselling or family systems therapy, is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on improving communication and resolving conflicts within a family unit. It involves working with family members together rather than individually to address issues that affect the entire family dynamic. The aims of family therapy include improving relationships among family members, solving family problems, understanding and handling special family situations, and creating a better functioning home environment.
Family therapy operates from a family systems theory perspective, which means it views the family as an interconnected system where each member's behaviours and interactions affect the whole family. This approach is rooted in systems theory, which is also widely used in systems theory social work. Even though the presenting issue may seem to be arising from one member of the family (e.g., a depressed mother), the family therapist will examine patterns of interaction, roles, and feedback loops within the family system to better understand how these might have contributed to the specific family member's issues and overall family functioning.
Family therapists acknowledge and consider the perspectives of all family members, and therapy sessions are collaborative, involving participation from all family members. This process, known as joining, helps establish a strong therapeutic relationship. Therapists use a variety of systemic therapy interventions and techniques tailored to the specific needs and dynamics of each family. These may include role-playing, genograms (family tree diagrams), narrative therapy, structural therapy (restructuring family roles), or behavioural interventions, all of which are grounded in the biopsychosocial model of understanding human behaviour and relationships.
What are the Different Approaches to of Family Therapy?
There are different approaches to family counselling and each can address specific issues in a family dynamic. Depending on the types of problems encountered, therapists can draw from multiple different therapy modalities to find an approach that the family unit responds best to.
Narrative Family Therapy
Narrative Therapy on its own aims to separate an individual from the problem by allowing them to externalise the issues rather than internalise them. The therapist uses this concept to encourage family members to tell their own stories so the others can understand who they are and how their experiences have shaped them. This approach often involves circular questioning to explore relationships and patterns within the family system.
Structural Family Therapy
This approach focuses on restructuring the family system by identifying and adjusting dysfunctional roles, boundaries, and hierarchies within the family. The therapist may observe family interactions, use enactments (re-enacting family dynamics), and use directives to re-organise family structure to improve communication and relationships. This method emphasises the importance of understanding circular causality in family dynamics.
Strategic Family Therapy
Strategic Family Therapy emphasises problem-solving and creating specific solution-focused interventions to change behaviours within the family. Therapists may use paradoxical directives (encouraging the family to continue problematic behaviour), reframing (changing the way a problem is viewed), or prescribing the symptom (assigning tasks that indirectly address the issue).
Bowenian Family Therapy
Bowen family systems therapy, also known as Bowenian Family Therapy, focuses on understanding multigenerational family patterns and emotional systems to promote differentiation of self (the ability to separate thoughts and emotions from family influences). The therapist works to reduce emotional reactivity, improve communication, and foster individual autonomy while maintaining connection within the family. This approach also addresses issues of emotional cutoff, where family members distance themselves emotionally from one another.
Functional Family Therapy
Functional Family Therapy is an intensive short-term treatment that is typically used for families with adolescents who are experiencing high-risk behavioural problems such as violence, substance abuse, or other delinquent behaviours. It seeks to address these issues by first building trust and respect within the family unit, followed by skills that the family can use to relate more effectively with each other. This approach often incorporates a strength orientation, focusing on the family's existing resources and capabilities.
What to Consider Before Starting Family Therapy
Family therapy might explore uncomfortable topics and dig into the roots of emotional conflicts in a group dynamic. As such, it can be a difficult and sometimes upsetting journey for many families. As past conflicts or unhealthy behaviour patterns are brought up, families might feel like the dynamics are worsening compared to the start of family therapy.
It is essential for family members to keep in mind that family therapists are highly-trained professionals who are there to help. Working through conflicts, opening old wounds, and experiencing intense emotions are all part of the process of systemic therapy. Families have to trust both the professional and the time-tested therapy methods used to fix problematic behaviours and ultimately strengthen the family unit and improve overall family functioning.
Benefits of Family Therapy
Family counselling can help both the family unit as a group and individuals within the family who might need help. It strengthens bonds between family members and aims to ensure that there is mutual respect, trust, and understanding between everyone.
Improved Communication
Family therapy enhances communication by creating a safe space for family members to share feelings without judgment, fostering transparency and reducing misunderstandings. Therapists use different methods to open up communication channels, ensuring every member feels heard and understood. Clear communication helps family members express themselves and understand each other, which leads to fewer conflicts.
Conflict Resolution
Family therapy teaches constructive conflict resolution by helping families identify the root causes of disputes and develop empathetic solutions. Families learn to resolve issues amicably, using empathy rather than accusatory tones. These skills extend beyond the family, enhancing individual conflict management abilities in other areas of life.
Strengthened Family Bonds
Joint therapy sessions can strengthen family bonds as members work through challenges together. Therapists help family members recognise each other’s strengths and positive traits, promoting mutual respect and appreciation1. This is especially helpful when life transitions, like divorce or death, have weakened family ties. Furthermore, family therapy can create a stronger sense of family identity by reminding relatives of shared values or creating new traditions.
Addresses Systemic Issues
Family therapy addresses issues from a systemic perspective, treating the family as a whole, unlike individual therapy. This approach effectively treats issues rooted in family dynamics, such as generational behaviour patterns or shared trauma. Solutions that change the family system, rather than just individual behaviours, tend to be more comprehensive and sustainable.
Support for All
One of the most significant benefits of family therapy is its focus on supporting every family member. Parents often worry about their children while managing their own stressors, life transitions, anxiety, or depression. Family therapy balances these needs by dedicating part of the therapy to supporting parents and caregivers.
Opportunity for Change
Family therapy provides families another chance to move forward in a safer and more respectful way by identifying what isn’t working and what changes are needed to make things better. This can involve clarifying perspectives, improving communication skills, and increasing empathy.
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