At Brisbane Counselling Centre, there are psychologists who are qualified and trained to assist with family counselling, where the primary aim is to facilitate understanding and collaboration among family members in order to achieve more harmonious and healthy relationships.

Family therapy and counselling can be an invaluable tool in sorting through difficulties or hardships your family unit may be experiencing. There is no ‘wrong’ time to commence family therapy. With the aid of an experienced family therapist you can become well equipped to ensure positive communication and healthy relationships are formed and maintained between family members.

It’s a safe haven to discuss and solve persistent relationship issues and to foster the family’s strengths, helping to improve relationships and navigate difficult times with understanding and support.

What is family therapy?

Family therapy is a broad all-encompassing term that references a type of psychology that works with families to nurture positive development and change. It is meant to address specific issues your family might be struggling with and aims to provide you with frameworks and techniques to overcome them.

What is the purpose of family therapy?

Family therapy or counselling can be used to assist with a wide range of behaviours and complex family dynamics, but at its core exists to help family members resolve conflict and improve their communication and functionality. How long your family comes to therapy depends on what issues you are dealing with. A treatment plan is established to assess needs, deliver skills, strategies and other resources, and mediate the resolution of issues in a safe and caring environment.

Did you know? 30% of our practitioners excel in adult family therapy, with a dedicated 10% specialising in aiding younger family members.

When is family therapy necessary?

The reason your family may decide to begin counselling is highly individualised. Family counselling can be used proactively or reactively, it depends on what circumstances you are facing.

Some of the issues we can help you with include:

  • interpersonal conflict
  • parenting skills
  • adolescent adjustment
  • separation & divorce
  • blended families
  • controlling & abusive behaviours
  • establishing boundaries
  • drug & alcohol abuse
  • sibling conflict
  • anger management
  • grief & loss

How should we prepare for family therapy?

If this is your first family therapy session, or your first experience with counselling altogether it can be hard to know what to expect. There are a few key steps you should consider taking before attending your first family counselling session. Ideally, all family members attend the first session. Talk to all involved about why you’re going to therapy. Family counselling aims to facilitate understanding and resolve conflict, so it’s important that no one family member is blindsided walking into the room either because they don’t know why they are there, or worse, that they weren’t aware they were coming to an appointment at all.

Make sure everyone understands how you arrived at the decision to attend family therapy with a skilled family therapist. Think about or write notes on what you want to discuss before your appointment. Trying to remember incidents and how they made you feel in a particular moment, sometimes weeks/years after they occurred, can be difficult and reduce how effective therapy sessions are. Try to come prepared with talking points so your family psychologist can explore them in depth with you and improve relationships within the family.

If possible, try to encourage everyone attending the appointment to do this.At the end of the day, every family has different needs which means the reason they attend family therapy is different. It can be hard knowing when the right time to start is, or what to expect and addressing common issues effectively can sometimes be a short term commitment or require extended support for more complex family issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the difference between family therapy and family counselling?

    Family therapy and family counselling are often used interchangeably. However, when it comes to the method of treatment, they become distinctly different. 

     

    Family therapy generally involves a registered psychologist working with the entire family unit to address systemic issues and improve family dynamics through strategies and frameworks that facilitate healthier relationships. 

     

    On the other hand, family counselling may focus around individual sessions to address personal issues affecting the family. At Brisbane Counselling Centre, all Family Counselling sessions are exclusively performed by our registered counsellors.

     

    Both approaches have the primary aim of nurturing positive development and fostering understanding and collaboration among family members.

  • Is family counselling a good idea?

    Yes, family counselling can be a beneficial approach to nurturing healthier family relationships. Whether proactively to strengthen family bonds or reactively to address specific challenges and conflicts, family counselling offers a supportive environment to improve communication skills, develop new coping strategies, and foster well-being within the family unit.

     

     It is a tool that facilitates understanding and helps family members feel heard, ultimately working towards harmonious relationships.

  • How do family therapists assist young people in a family?

    Family therapists can assist young people by working with them individually or with the family as a whole to address various challenges such as adolescent adjustment issues or difficulties in school. Through focused therapy sessions, therapists help young people develop new skills to navigate life’s challenges more effectively, promoting overall well-being.

  • How can family counselling support parents?

    Family counselling offers a platform where parents can learn and hone parenting skills, including coping strategies to handle various challenges they face in raising children. From addressing concerns related to blended families to helping in establishing boundaries, family counselling can be an invaluable resource in nurturing a supportive and understanding environment in a family setting.

  • What strategies are employed in family counselling to handle mental health issues?

    Family counselling integrates various strategies to handle mental health issues effectively. It involves fostering understanding about mental illness and providing coping skills to manage the challenges arising from it. Therapists employ a range of strategies, from focused therapy to teaching problem-solving skills, to nurture a supportive environment where each family member can work towards mental well-being, all guided by a family psychologist proficient in addressing mental health issues.

Next stepsCounselling for families

If you think that you or someone you know could benefit from seeing a psychologist for family counselling, please give us a call on 07 3831 4452. Our receptionists  are very kind and friendly and are always keen to assist with any questions you may have.

We look forward to being of help!

Get in touch

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FAX (07) 3831 4457
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Mon-Fri 7:30am-7:00pm
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