Family Counselling

Families come in all "shapes and sizes" - two parent, single parent, childless, extended, same-sex, blended, grandparent - and they all have their own unique challenges. No family is "perfect."

Ranging from simple disagreements to deep-rooted generational issues, ALL families experience "problems." 

Are you struggling to understand your teen's behaviour and your home life has become unmanageable? Have you recently divorced, and your kids are having difficulty adjusting? 

A influences B, but B doesn't influence A. That is, A causes B.

What I've learned is that when issues arise in a family the typical assumption is that the "problem" is created and maintained by the individual - the emotional teen, a parents' addiction, the fighting between siblings. To solve the "problem" the focus is directed at the individual, they need to change something within themself. This way of thinking is often why families remain STUCK.

If your family is experiencing problems from issues beyond your understanding or ability to help rather than "sweeping these issues under the rug" and remain stuck, counselling for families can help.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN FAMILY COUNSELLING

City Centre Counselling provides a safe and supportive space for all members of a family to feel heard and understood with a focus on the whole family rather than individual issues. 

Although individual problems do exist within families, I believe individuals are best understood within the context of their relationships and the broader systems that shape their lives - family, culture, and community. 

HOW I CAN HELP

Within sessions, I'll provide opportunities for each family member to gain insight into the complex dynamics and patterns that exist within the family system. 

A influences B, and B influences A. The dynamic is ongoing.

Through therapeutic conversations, guided by a family systems lens, I'll help each person identify and understand how their beliefs and behaviours impact the other members of the family and to help them better understand their own role in the family problem. 

Reflecting on your history and exploring past dynamics is not about assigning blame or pointing fingers. 

Rather this insight aims to improve communication, foster change in close relationships, and resolve conflicts within the family which can lead to a healthier family dynamic and improve the overall wellbeing of each family member and the family as a whole.

What happens to one member of a family happens to everyone in the family!