Families can be complicated and problems can manifest in the healthiest of families resulting in often challenging, frustrating and painful interactions between family members. From little irritations to buried resentments, from dramatic arguments to feelings of guilt, disappointment, and anger we did not even know we had, our families can bring up the most intense emotions we can experience.

From our own family of origin, we develop our expectations of others, communication skills, outlook on life, ability to give an receive love and coping skills and chronic family difficulties can have a lasting effect which can impact future generations.

Family difficulties will challenge every family at some point and can result from behavioural and mental issues in the family or from specific stressful events.

 


Common family problems can include:

 

  • Separation or divorce
  • Blended family adjustments
  • Bereavement or grief
  • Financial issues
  • Substance misuse
  • Self-harming
  • health issues in a family member
  • Parental relationship

 

Whatever the source, distressing family dynamics can greatly interfere with the functioning of every family member, including extended family members, although those living in the same household are likely to be more significantly impacted than those who live apart.

Tension in the family can impact on every member’s mental and physical health, relationships and even each members capacity to perform every day tasks.

Family problems can manifest through repeated family conflicts, dramatic behaviour shifts in children and adolescents and depression and mood swings.

how does it work?

Family or systemic therapy comes from systems theory which understands the family as a working system of parts. When one part of the system goes wrong it affects the functioning of the rest of the system.

In family therapy, families are brought together to think about and discuss problems and difficulties with the focus being on the interactions between the individuals rather than on the individuals themselves.

If you think seeing a family therapist could be helpful, you can call and speak to our family therapist who can discuss with you how family therapy could help.

 

 

family therapy in Colchester, Essex