Counseling is offered to families by trained professionals to provide emotional support, education and guidance for a variety of concerns confronted by today’s families. The process and workings of family counseling are often very challenging for family members as well as for the counselor.
Part of the goal of the therapist is to observe interactions between family members. Another part is to observe the perception of non-interacting family members. Thus if two family members get into an argument in a session, the therapist might want to know how the other family members are dealing with the disagreement or the way in which the two fighting members comport themselves.
In addition to observation, the therapist often helps the family reflect on better ways of communicating with each other. So family counseling may in part be instruction and encouragement. In fact, family counseling often teaches family members new and more positive ways to communicate to replace old, negative communication patterns.
Observations may also be used to point out how poor communication, especially when particularly filled with strife, affects the behavior and happiness of children. Children benefit from the safe forum of a session. They may get to for discuss the things they don’t like about behavior of caregivers and/or siblings. Such discussion might not be permitted in the home setting.
Examples of problems encountered by families include:
- family planning
- adoption
- parenting skills
- blended family issues
- step-parenting
- health related problems
- problems of mental health
- problems of mental retardation
Common family goals are:
- to communicate more effectively and meaningfully
- to guide the family through traumatic experiences
- to resolve problems and conflicts
- to create a more positive family environment
Family counseling practitioners often work with the entire nuclear family, viewing the family as a unit or system. Relationships emerge from this system that influence development and behavior of all the family members. An individual member of the family may receive attention during the family session to address problem behavior or provide support for hardships or pathologies that affect them.
A combination of goals, ambitions, levels of maturity, expectations and conflicting egos can make this type of counseling seem like a juggling act between participants. It is very important to choose a counselor with the proper training and experience, who is able to sift out all of the significant issues so as to assist a family effectively.
If you are wanting help, our counseling center provides individual, group, couples, and family counseling.
There are two ways to setup an appointment with one of our counselors:
1) Fill out the Contact Form and a counselor will call you with 24-hours; 2) Call our offices at 303-933-5800.