How Family Counseling Can Help Your Family

Since most people envision Therapy and Counseling as a one-on-one event, it can be difficult for families to come to terms with the idea of Family Counseling. The difference between Individual Counseling and Family Counseling is simple: Family Therapy involves more people, and is therefore more complex than one-on-one therapy sessions. Each family member brings something new and different to the table. The family, as a unit, is dealt with as a whole in Family Counseling. While sometimes individuals within the family unit wish to seek out Individual Therapy in addition to Family Therapy, Family Counseling involves the entire family coming together in the same place for the same amount of time each week. If you are looking for Counseling in San Diego and are wondering how Family Counseling can help your family, contact me for a consultation so we can discuss your family’s specific needs and expectations. Over the years I have helped bring many families together through the process of Counseling. My San Diego office offers you and your loved ones a private, safe environment whereby each family member has an opportunity to be seen and heard from. While it may sound simple, this is often what families who are deemed “dysfunctional “require: the chance to speak openly and honestly in front of each member of the family without being attacked or blamed. Since most families who seek therapy have trouble with this sort of communication, one of the most important and most valued component of Family Counseling is being able to express your thoughts, feelings, and emotions in front of your family members, and in turn, have each family member do the same. Many families who are having problems feel as though they cannot voice their thoughts and feelings to other members of the family. This can result in a “bottling up” of emotions, and eventually can lead to an emotional outburst. In severe cases, some family members turn to unhealthy coping mechanisms like drugs and/or alcohol. This inevitably leads to the family enduring even larger issues, which often require therapy on their own. So before things get to this stage, give Family Counseling a try. rnAs a Family Therapist, not only will I provide a safe and confidential environment for you and your family members to openly discuss issues in, but I will also ensure fairness by allowing each member or the family an opportunity to speak without fear of being verbally attacked or judged. Sometimes the aid of a third, objective person can help families gain perspective on their issues and act as a mediator in family discussions. During Family Counseling, we will also take a look at your family’s ability to problem-solve and express feelings/emotions. Typically I find that families experiencing problems are usually struggling with communication issues. Perhaps one or more member(s) of the family are not being heard or being allowed to express his/her opinions, thoughts, and feelings. Having a Family Therapist allows for equality, since each person gets a turn to speak and to listen to one another. We will also explore your unique family dynamic, and examine each member of the family’s role. Once we have established a comfortable environment whereby everyone feels they can speak openly and honestly about their feelings, I can begin to teach you ways to work through family conflicts and disagreements. We will experiment with a variety of techniques and tools and see what works best for your family, and alter our plan of action as needed. For Family Counseling to be successful, it is important that each family member participates in the Counseling process. In addition, each family member must take ownership and responsibility for his/her contributing roles in family issues and conflicts. Remember, the goal in Family Counseling is never to blame or to single out one individual. While it is true that there will be some members who need to alter their behavior more than others, the focus will be on family and individual strengths rather than weaknesses, and blame will never be a part of Family Therapy. Another benefit of Family Counseling is that it is often short-term (anywhere between 4 – 6 months in duration, depending on your unique family needs). Therapy sessions are also short, lasting about 45 minutes to an hour on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Family Therapy also requires no preparation – come as you are and we will deal with the issues at hand from there. Keep in mind that attending Family Counseling does not erase family history, nor does it promise that there will be no future conflicts or familial disagreements. This is not realistic. However, Family Therapy will provide you with the tools you need to conquer family disagreements as they arise, and will ultimately help you to gain insight to each family member’s uniqueness. Once you have attended several therapy sessions, you can begin to implement some of the tools and techniques you have learned through counseling within your own home. Eventually, you and your family members will have a strong repertoire of skills to draw upon when the inevitable family conflicts do arise, and you will feel equipped and prepared to deal with them in a positive, healthy manner.