Family Counseling

Family Counseling is a type of counseling where the family is the center of attention, not the individual. Though one member could be the main reason that the rest of the family needs counseling.

It has been observed in the past that the issues of one family members could have an adverse effect on the remaining family members too.

There could be a complete break down of the family structure. Family counseling is a direct attempt to prevent this from happening. The objective is to bring family members together to help solve any issues that affect the proper functioning of the family.

The family is a fundamental unit in modern society. Despite the drastic decrease in quality time spent with each other due to the emergence and popularity of social media and smartphones, the family remains the most important way that individuals connect with each other and the world around them.

The common reasons that families avail counseling services include marital problems, issues between parents and children, financial problems, changes in family relationships, property matters, disciplinary issues with kids, pregnancy of teens in the home, how a long term or terminal illness can impact the whole family, and how addictions can tear a family apart.

The family counselor must hold back biases and judgments while providing each family member with an equal opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings during counseling sessions.

The counseling can include both individual and group sessions with the purpose of helping the family come closer and get along with each other.

Sometimes the head of the family might pass away or might lose their job. Divorce and separation of the parents can put a strain on the whole family and lead to stress for every family member.

There are many other reasons that can lead to problems within the family. Counseling the whole family together does benefit a lot at such times.

The family counselor or therapist must be skilled enough to observe and listen to every family member.

The counselor must examine the key roles played by each member and how to restore balance when issues arise in the household.

In the home, it is often difficult for family members to communicate with each other openly and freely. Family Counseling aims to encourage and foster these interactions among family members with the hope of sorting out issues amicably.

It is important for the family counselor to understand the culture of the family that is being counseled. The counselor must be well-versed in their mother tongue or primary speaking language in order to conduct sessions smoothly.

If the family has come for counseling due to issues pertaining to a single member then the counselor must listen to all sides of the story in a totally unbiased way.

The counselor must not take any sides nor intervene during family discussions. Striking a balance between listening and providing each member of the family to participate in the counseling session is the key.

Usually family counseling sessions are held just once or twice a week. The timings of the session must be suitable to every single family member. In cases of trauma or abuse, more sessions can be held initially.

Separate sessions can be held for individuals in case they are not ready to interact with the whole family at the same time.

Modern life can be difficult at times. The stresses and strains of daily living can bear a toll on the family.

Due to hectic schedules and lesser communication between family members these days, the love, encouragement and support that a healthy family provides might be affected.

Family counseling helps the family come closer once again. It can help heal deep wounds that have been swept under the carpet for many years.

Family therapy sessions can be a source of nourishment and support to enable family growth and resolve conflicts and issues that are there.

The approaches used during family counseling sessions may vary from family to family and session to session. Usually a combination of talk therapy and a strategic approach is used in order to help identify problems and go about resolving them systematically.

If there is an issue between generations in the family, then a trans-generational approach could be used to resolve conflicts and issues inside the family.

Similarly, if there is an issue pertaining to the rights and freedom of a certain family member then experimental therapy may be used by the family counselor.

Constructive therapy is used to help family members come together during counseling sessions and resolve their issues among themselves.

This is often achieved through an open interaction between family members during counseling sessions. Each member is encouraged to openly talk about things without any other member accusing, blaming or interrupting them.

No matter which approach or style is used during counseling sessions, the main objective is to help the family come closer, resolve internal conflicts and to continue to enhance family relationships so that the entire family remains as one unit.