What is family therapy?
Family therapy is talking therapy designed to resolve conflict between family members.
The goal is to assist, support and enable those in a close relationship to work through any issues they may be having. This is achieved through helping individual members of the family, or system, understand their impact on the group. Family therapy creates an environment in which each member of the group feels able to express their thoughts and emotions. A place where their perspectives can be properly heard.
Family therapy, also known as systemic therapy, can often be very helpful in managing complex relationships with children. It can also be used to facilitate a dialogue with adult members of the same family.
Therapists work with the family system to resolve conflict, deadlocks and help each member of the group to find a healthier was of expressing their feelings, in ways strengthen rather than harm relationships.
Systemic therapy is a particularly effective and useful approach for modern families where parents are often juggling busy careers, integrating children from previous relationships, or simply feeling unable to resolve conflicts.
Who is family therapy for?
Family therapy is a type of group psychotherapy where the focus is on the improvement of family relationships and behaviours. Family therapy usually consists of different combinations of loved ones, from parents and children, siblings, aunts and uncles, friends, caregivers, and more.
How can systemic therapy benefit us?
Systemic (family) therapy takes the position that each and every member of the family or group contributes to the overall system. The therapist therefore works with the whole system and considers how each member of the group may be bringing past relational patterns into the group, how unconscious beliefs may be limiting change and what certain behaviours expressed by individuals may be meaning. The latter can be particularly relevant for understanding teenage behaviour. Ultimately, whether we are a child, teenager or adult, all of our behaviour is a communication. This therapy aims to assist families in developing healthy ways of communicating and expressing themselves, in ways that nurture and deeper the family dynamic.
Issues family therapy can help with
Family therapy is ideal for children, young people, adults, and older members of the family who may be experiencing difficulties and interpersonal issues within the family. This can span many different things, including:
- Parenting issues
- Divorce
- Blended families
- Estranged family members
- Ongoing conflict
- Communication problems
- Managing strong emotions
- Lack of emotional closeness or trust
- Attachment issues
- Child abuse and neglect
- Behavioural difficulties
- Trauma
- Coping with chronic illness of a family member
- Divorce
- Coping with the mental health condition of a family member
At Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy, we offer in-depth support for families going through a range of issues. Our team are equipped to handle different challenges and provide a safe, compassionate space to explore these issues.
What to expect in family therapy
The goal of family therapy is to ultimately improve communication between family members and create an understanding of any maladaptive dynamics that may be happening.
Family therapy helps to create distance between family members. This is important in order for every family member to understand each other’s perspectives better, and to be able to work on developing different ways of interacting and communicating.
Areas we cover
At Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy, we have practices in Brighton and Lewes, easily accessible from the train station. We offer our family therapy to everyone in East Sussex and beyond, and even if you’re not local or are unable to travel, we can also offer online family therapy sessions.
Our family issues therapists
We have a team of highly skilled and qualified family therapists who can effectively support families going through a range of challenges. If you want to find out more about our family therapy team, you can use our practitioner search, where you can view those who are currently accepting patients or running a waitlist.
Why choose Brighton and Hove psychotherapy?
Every therapist at Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy is dedicated to helping families and individuals work through their issues and create a more united family unit. We make sure to have a team small enough so we can all work together on a personal basis, but large enough to cater to the diverse needs of our client. Get in touch with us now for effective family therapy.
We have practices in Lewes and Hove and have clients from right across Sussex as well as London and further afield. To find out about Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy’s family therapy services get in touch with us today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does family therapy last?
Each session is 50 minutes, however, more time may be required for larger groups or for families with more complex dynamics.
How many sessions will we need?
The duration of family therapy depends on the family’s or individual’s needs and goals. Some families will see improvements in a few sessions, whereas others may need long-term or ongoing support.
Do all family members need to attend every session?
No, all family members aren’t required at all sessions. Some sessions may only need specific members of the family, and others may include everyone. This will be determined throughout the sessions.
How can my family prepare for therapy sessions?
It’s important to remain open and positive about therapy sessions. Have conversations about therapy with your family, including children, and speak about any issues you’d like to address. Although sometimes certain family members might be hesitant, the therapist can help work with those who are willing to take part.
Can children benefit from family therapy?
Yes, children in families can benefit from family therapy as they learn healthy ways to express emotions which can resolve behavioural problems. Family therapy can also improve communication with parents which can result in a safe environment.
Is online family therapy available?
Yes, we offer online family therapy for families who aren’t local, can’t travel, or are unable to make it to the appointment together. Get in touch with us to discuss options for online family therapy.
Are there age limits on family therapy?
No, we help family members of all ages and your therapist will tailor their approach based on the members of the family present.
All the content on this page has been reviewed and vetted by Sam Jahara Transactional Analysis Psychotherapist, Supervisor and Co-Founder of Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy. For any questions or more information about the subjects discussed on this page please contact us.