Family Therapy
Family Therapy
Family and Systemic Psychotherapy is an Evidenced Based Approach. It acknowledges the significance of the multiple contexts, within which relationships and their problems exist. Family Therapy recognises that difficulties are often found in the intersection between an individual's ideas and expectations, often influenced by family history and lived experience. At times this can contribute to problematic patterns of communication within relationships. Family Therapy is an opportunity to meet with significant others, safely and respectfully. Here we can explore differences and difficulties, whilst identifying strengths, resources, and possibilities going forward. Family Therapy is recommended by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE), and can support issues including episodes of anxiety and depression.
Family Therapy can help:
- Create the context to explore difficult dynamics safely.
- Support people through periods of change including reunification.
- Enable families to help one another through difficulty.
- Identify possibilities for change.
- Discuss and negotiate expectations to improve the experience of relationships.
- Develop different ways of being with loved ones and others.
- Enable understanding of relationship patterns.
- Navigate new territory and lifecycle changes e.g divorce
What Type Of Family Therapy Should I Have?
There are many different schools of Systemic Psychotherapy. Some privilege behavioural change and others priviledge the landscape of language and narratives told. It is helpful to draw on a variety of approaches when co-ordinating with people's values within the culture of the relationship. Family Therapy encourages clients to bring forth their own local knowledge and expertise, whilst appreciating attempted solutions, and ideas which prevents change from happening.
Who Should Attend Family Therapy?
Families can attend in different combinations. This might involve meeting all together initially, where we can consider the benefits of parents only, and sibling sessions. At times people request individual sessions also. Together we co-create the architecture within which meaningful dialogue can occur. Here new understandings can develop. It is important to identify the existing resources in the system, which can support the conditions for change and maintenance of this change going forward.
How Long Do Family Therapy Sessions Last?
The National Institute of Clinical Excellence sets out standards for Evidence Based practice. www.aft.org.uk/page/NICEguidelines
Families often attend fortnightly and at times people prefer to come in different configurations e.g sibling sessions, adults only, parents only sessions and individually before all coming ack together. Sessions are held at the Practice Rooms in Bristol Therapy Rooms to Rent in The Practice Rooms | Cotham Hill, Bristol.
What If Talking Is Too Difficult?
Talking can be difficult and so at these times I draw on creative methods including writing, imagery, and movement to support people in being able to express themselves and experience new ways of being together. The session can be facilitated face-to-face or online and at times a hybrid model can enable those who are geographically at a distance to be part of the conversation.
