FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many sessions does my family need?
The number of sessions your family needs will depend on the situation and circumstances that brought your family for therapy. The average number of sessions for family therapy is 5-20 sessions.
Do all family members need to be present for all appointments?
It is ideal if all family members are able to attend and commit to as many sessions as possible. The family is a system and if pieces of the system are missing, overall progress may be impacted. However, a therapist occasionally will request a session with only a few members of the family.
What is family conflict?
A family is made up of many unique individuals, each with a range of thoughts and opinions on almost every subject and situation. Add to the mix extended family with their beliefs and opinions about various subjects and situations. As a result of the plethora of personalities, beliefs, and opinions disagreements will arise from time to time. Conflict is simply the natural and healthy progression of any relationship.
A certain amount of family conflict is healthy, far better than a situation with no conflict at all. However, conflict becomes troublesome when the degree and intensity of fighting and arguing increases to the point where it impacts daily functioning, happiness, or the personality of one or more family members. At this point, outside intervention becomes necessary. Counselling offers family members a neutral voice and a place to be heard. It can also give family members the necessary tools to resolve conflict in a healthy way, bringing peace and harmony back to their everyday lives.
Why does my family fight all the time?
Whenever you put two people with distinct personalities and ideas into the same room, at some point opposing thoughts are inevitable. If presented in a non-threatening manner, these different viewpoints can actually help each member to learn about each other and grow as individuals.
This is the natural progression of any relationship. The problem generally arises when different viewpoints are not communicated respectfully, accepted, and valued. Ultimately, members get caught in their egos and from this point on, rational thinking goes out the window and conflicts become winner-takes-all battles in which everybody loses.
How do I know when my family needs to get help?
Basically, whenever a situation starts to control our lives, affecting our everyday functioning, it is a clear signal we need a neutral perspective. Healthy conflict is a natural part of any relationship; ongoing stress is not. There are several warning signs of undue stress for both children and parents.
If any member of the family’s eating habits or sleeping patterns have changed recently or they feel tired and down most of the time and there is no physical explanation, this could be an indication your family is experiencing higher than normal levels of stress. Anxiousness, irritability and consistent headaches and or stomachaches can also signal a body in overload. If you or your child is abusing alcohol or using drugs, this is a sure sign you need help.
Whether you are aware or not, the conflicts in your life can seriously affect both your emotional and physical well-being. Unresolved issues can quickly overtake our lives and affect everyone in the family. Although we will never be able to completely remove all of life’s many conflicts, often counselling can offer the family a new perspective and give them the tools to resolve it in a healthy and acceptable way. Sometimes an impartial voice is all that is needed to clear the way for mutual understanding and a peaceful coexistence.