The family is where we learn most about the ethics, morals and social values that we take with us into the world and carry with us for the rest of our lives. Family therapy exploits the relationships within the family to effectively address a wide range of problems within the family unit.

 

Family therapy defined and explained

Family therapy is based on the principles that a dysfunctional family can exacerbate an illness or behaviour, and that good family relationships are the most important support available to any person.

It is a psychological therapy that works at changing the relationships within a family − it addresses the way members of a family interact with each other and improves the way both the individual and the family functions.

Family therapy is also known as family systems or family focus therapy.

 

Effective yet no quick fix

During a family therapy session, the therapist helps the family to identify unhelpful behavioural patterns that could add to the issue or problem, leads conversations between family members to help the family achieve greater wisdom about their situation, and suggests better or different responses between family members in addressing the family’s problems or issues.

While therapy is mostly through family sessions, there can also be some individual sessions or sessions with the wide family or family friends.

Family therapy does not bring solutions overnight. It requires time, effort and commitment from everyone involved. It takes anything between five and 20 sessions to effectively address a problem. Also, the therapy is not confined to the sessions with the therapist; the newly acquired insights and skills have to be put into practice at home and as life goes on.

 

Issues that could benefit from family therapy

    • Illness within a family
    • Depression
    • Anxiety disorders
    • Substance abuse
    • Eating disorders
    • Behavioural problems
    • Adjustment problems following trauma
    • Obsessive-compulsive disorders
    • Psychotic and mood disorders
    • Couple and marriage counselling
    • Newly-blended families.

 

Sources
roseparkpsychology.com.au
www.famsa.org.za
www.famsawc.org.za
www.virtualmedicalcentre.com