In the current lock down quarantine situation, I am not surprised to see several therapists offering online family counseling and therapy. Quite thoughtful, I feel. Sometimes it is not enough to talk to our friends and family. We need professional help.
Family is the most important connection that human beings have. It’s the basic unit of society. Were it not for our biological instincts to protect our families, humans wouldn’t have advanced or evolved the way they have today.
But then, every family has its share of problems – stress, conflict, and other difficult situations. If not handled well and in a timely manner, most of these problems can lead to a crisis. Among the various methods a family may use to prevent a crisis in such times, family counseling and therapy is the most important and often, the most effective.
Here are 4 benefits of family counseling and therapy
1. Better communication within the family
The importance of communication is often undervalued in relationships. This is especially the case when it involves a group of people; for instance, a family. Many people find it challenging to open up to other family members. This leads to disconnection and distance between family members, which is a perfect breeding spot for problems.
Nonetheless, a family therapist provides insights and tools that help family members to freely open up to each other and be understood more efficiently. Family counseling and therapy helps members to understand the importance of open and honest communication and understand their roles within the family. Result? Happier families, stronger relationships.
2. It creates stronger family bonds
Conflicts are normal in any group. In fact, I would even say they are necessary to keep the relationship lively. In a family, sibling conflicts are common, and they bring disconnection within the family if they go unresolved. It’s common to find siblings fighting for attention or due to jealousy, among other things. Parents may invalidate the significance of such conflicts or fail to understand the children’s feelings. Consequently, they end up bringing up children with unresolved feelings.
With the help of a family counselor, you can understand the feelings of your children better, and it’s easier to bring them together. For your conflicting kids, a session with a family counselor can help them understand each other and settle their differences. This applies to all family members. Better relationships and stronger family bonds are created when family members begin to understand each other.
3. A source of support during transitions
Crucial life transition moments can be extremely stressful. Transitions can be positive or negative. Things such as divorce, death, relocating, or empty nesting can disrupt family dynamics. During such times, family counseling can be the lifeline for members who are struggling. Family counseling and therapy can help here. A counselor can provide help with grief, communication, and adjusting to new circumstances.
4. Building self-esteem
Poor family dynamics can result in some family members feeling bad about themselves. This is unfortunate. You see, we all need self-esteem to cope with life changes and cope well in society. The lack of self-esteem makes people vulnerable to peer pressure, health problems, and interpersonal problems. Luckily, this can be remedied with the help of a family counselor. When everyone in the family feels better about themselves, the family will live a more positive life, and they have better chances of succeeding in life.
As a family, you don’t have to wait for a crisis or a major life transition moment to seek help. Every family needs a family counselor. Contact Bayless Integrated Health Centre to inquire about counseling services.
14 comments
This was a good read Vidya. To have a loving and caring family is the best that one can ask for. It’s normal to sometimes have quarrels and I agree one should always go that extra mile to try and get things smoothened out again. Family is everything 🤗
Family counselling indeed makes sense for all the reasons that you have listed. Sometimes it is always best to talk to a neutral person, and this helps focus on issues that one would not even have realized existed in the first place. It is good to see many online services in this area, as we are in very testing times and many people are facing issues owing to being couped up inside for long.
As a recovering alcoholic and addict I spent a year in rehab as well as time in a psychiatric ward prior to getting clean. So I am no stranger to therapy! I am a huge fan of family counselling. So many people think that those that go to therapy are weak or have lots of problems, but it is really just about looking after your mental health. Families get stuck in old patterns and it is great to work through any underlying issues!
My family and I are going through a rough time ever since our father died; that’s why we’re considering fo hiring a therapist, who will be able to get us through these tough times. I agree with you that by seeking help from a counselor, we’ll be able to understand each other’s struggles and emotions. It’s also great to learn that they will help us regain our self-esteem which is beneficial in terms of coping with challenges.
I’ve been planning to hire a counseling service because my quite helpless due to what’ I’m going through right now. Because of what’s happening to me, I can’t help but have a conflict with my family, therefore I agree with you that a counselor will be able to help us communicate better with one another. It’s also good to know that therapy is beneficial in terms of helping us develop a self-esteem.
I liked what you said about how a counselor can help people deal with grief, communication, and help them adjust to new circumstances while helping them build better relationships. My mom has been thinking about going to see a professional so that she can get started to put her life back together. Getting some help so that she can get her life back on track and deal with all of the new changes.
Therapists, whether classified as psychologists or counselors, have varying master’s and doctorate degrees and are licensed by their state. With psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy, licensed professionals focus on the long-term and work on ways to understand your thoughts, moods and behaviors.
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The American Psychological Association suggests considering therapy when something causes distress and interferes with some part of life. Anxiety, stress, food addiction and whatever are often caused by psychological issues. Although genetics plays a role as well. Stay healthy!
I’m glad that you discussed how every family has its own share of problems and the experience is different for every member. Admittedly, mine isn’t perfect, and we’re at the stage where the future doesn’t look too bright. My older siblings tend to leave the house and my parents can’t meet halfway when it comes to decisions. I really think we’re in need of an experienced counselor who can help us sort our problems.
I totally agree when you said that family therapy will help your family members understand that open communication is important. I hope I can convince my family to undergo this kind of therapy to fix our hidden issues. It is just obvious that our relationship with each other has problems because we do not talk that much for about a year now. So thank you for the information.
I loved learning from your article that family counseling can help to create stronger bonds and better relationships because you start to understand each other. My husband and I want to create great relationships with our 3 children. We will have to look into starting counseling as a family to improve our family bond.
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It helped me when you said that transitions such as death, relocating or divorce can affect family dynamics, hence family counseling could be a lifeline for the family members who are affected or struggling. A friend of mine shared with me yesterday at work that she feels incomplete recently and she does not in the mood working in the office due to her parent’s divorced and asked me if I have any ideas about what would be the best option to heal herself from the pain. Thanks a lot for this great article and I’ll be sure to tell her that she might consider counseling to help her feel better as they give effective advice.
I appreciate that you mentioned how communication is important, especially among family members, and counseling is one way of getting your family members to properly talk with each other and allow a better understanding of everyone’s insights. My sister wants to get married to his current lover, but our parents won’t allow it because of personal biases, so there’s a constant tension inside the house nowadays. I’ll have to look into counseling services we can avail of so everyone in the family can talk about this properly.
There are many reasons why family counseling and therapy is necessary. One reason is that it can help to improve communication within the family. Communication is essential for any relationship, and if communication breakdowns occur within the family, it can lead to serious problems. Family counseling and therapy can help to identify the root causes of communication problems and find solutions that work for everyone involved.