Why might Family Therapy be right for me?
Families, like people, are complex and can experience significant change over time in relation to phases of life, environmental interactions, and fluctuations in stress and mental wellness. When we consider that families are a system built upon foundations that are influenced by our unique experiences as family members, we may bring forward our own past experiences within family units, meaning there are a lot of moving parts to any given family. And like any complex system with moving parts, things can get damaged, break down, or need maintenance.
If you are beginning to notice an increase in arguing and conflicts within the family; escalations to physical fighting; challenges to communicate with another effectively; or people not feeling heard or understood when expressing a concern, these are all signs it may be time to consult with a therapist who is familiar with family therapy. Sometimes, we may brush these issues off as phases, periods of stress, or temporary. And sometimes, this may be the case. But whenever there is doubt, it is worth setting up a consultation– the nice thing with family therapy is that by working on strengthening the relationships and building awareness of the dynamics within, we can often facilitate long-lasting change that shores up future foundations for family members, and that can grow with us through every season our family may experience.
What even is Family Therapy?
Unlike individual therapy where the person is the client, family therapy focuses on the family unit as the client, and often includes multiple people working together towards a functional change. Depending on the modality being used, family therapy may include exploring the relationships within the family and how they impact the families structure overall. They may include exploring and building awareness of the family's dynamic, including its hierarchy, boundaries, and subsystems within, and how these all interplay to create patterns that affect the family as a whole, and contribute to healthy boundaries where previous boundaries may have been enmeshed or disengaged. Problem solving and more solution-focused approaches can also be utilized in family therapy settings– though which approach is selected and may be a good fit for your family and goals will be much clearer after initial consultation.