When It Is Time to Consider Family Therapy

As the stigma around therapy and mental health is decreasing, more and more people are considering family therapy. Families are spending less time together and more time filling their days with tasks, assignments, work and school, and maintaining other relationships. To bring them back together, address any concerns of the family dynamic, and to help families learn to understand and communicate with each other, family therapy is available.

When is Family Therapy Beneficial?

Families can drift apart or are often torn apart, though it is not always that drastic. One person in the family who has a mental health struggle may affect the other members of the family as well, and it can cause damage to their relationship. If you are feeling distanced from your children, parents, or siblings, it may be time to consider family therapy. When the family dynamic is harming family members more than it is benefiting them, seeking a family therapist in Mississauga or another city, may help to bring the family back together.

Some life events will almost always benefit from this time spent together including adoptions when a new family member is finding their place, after divorce to help children and parents learn to relate to each other in the new situation and help to share their feelings, and when one family member is feeling or behaving in a way that is hurting their family relationships. These are not the only times that it is useful, it may help with shared grief, growing pains, and life changing events such as illness or injury.

What is Family Therapy?

This is a version of talk therapy that gathers the family and addresses individual concerns and how they affect the group as a whole. It addresses ways to communicate that will work for each member of the family, finds ways to seek common ground and problem solve together, and helps with specific issues or occurrences as well. Each member of the family should attend together for the best results, but in some cases, such as couple counselling, only those who are directly involved need attend.

The main goal is to help family members to engage with each other in a positive and productive way, and to overcome their own obstacles. It can help families who all communicate in their own way and who have different needs from each other to better understand each other and learn how they can better interact. It ensures each family member feels heard, adjusts family dynamics and expectations, and helps bring families closer together.

Finding a Therapist

As with other forms of therapy, the success is affected by the bond and trust that is created with the family members as well as with the therapist. You must find one that you trust, that you feel comfortable sharing feelings with, and who has the ability to communicate clearly with your family. For a Mississauga family therapist our clinic can provide a safe and supportive environment. Family therapy in Mississauga can help your family to remain strong, connected, and supportive.

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