Family and systemic psychotherapy Brighton and Lewes

Systemic psychotherapy offers a safe, confidential space to explore openly the presenting issues. This often happens at a point of crisis, when feelings are running high and emotions are raw. The therapist’s work is to facilitate dialogue and create a space where reflection is possible.

This includes work with couples. Typically, couples come to therapy when there is a crisis in their relationship or when one or both partners want something to change. Sometimes one or both partners want help to separate well and manage a transition from couple and family into a joint parenting relationship. This can involve couples work moving into family work to include children. Family therapy can help with these changes over a period of time. A family can have follow-up review appointments once the main work is finished if required. This acts as a safety net, often at a time when there is uncertainty. People sometimes get confused about safety and certainty, and managing uncertainty in a safe way is the ultimate goal.

Among other matters, systemic therapy considers families of origin, attachment and communication styles, parenting scripts, beliefs, values and hopes. Systemic therapy works with the past, present and future – the past influences the present and hopes for the future.

Young people or children are sometimes referred by their GPs or their parents, and can present with a range of issues from emotional difficulties to more serious mental health problems that require a multi-disciplinary approach. In cases of the latter, we would advise and support a referral into the CAMHS system. Rather than focusing on the young person in therapy, it’s helpful to think about the whole context of school, family and friendships and to believe that the child’s family can effectively make changes that support improvement of their emotional difficulties. Sharing the problem means that the solution is also shared. Mental health for young people is a very important issue and early referral is advised if problems become apparent.

Relationships can be even more complex and multi-layered in step-families and post-adoptive families. In these cases, considering the complex relationships from all perspectives is helpful. Many of these families have experienced loss prior to forming, which adds a further emotional component. Taking a neutral and curious position gives everyone space to have their experience and perspective heard.

What happens during family and systemic psychotherapy

Embarking on the journey of therapy can be daunting, and you may be filled with anticipation and apprehension. With family and systemic psychotherapy, we focus primarily on the relational dynamics and patterns within families as they are playing out in the here-and-now.

The first meeting

The purpose of the initial meeting between you and your therapist is for you to determine if you are a good fit. You and your therapist share the responsibility of making the decision from different perspectives. You must feel comfortable enough to allow the therapist into you life and that of your family, and they must decide if the work is clinically appropriate. The level of comfort between yourself and the therapist should be a balance between feeling secure and at ease whilst also recognising that their role of working with you may be challenging. You should determine if you feel comfortable enough sharing your thoughts and feelings with the clinician sitting across from you. This is a big decision, so don’t rush it. This is also your time to answer as many questions as you see fit.

Confidentiality

At Brighton & Hove Psychotherapy, our therapists have a strict confidentiality policy meaning everything discussed between yourself and your therapist stays between you. However, there are rare instances where confidentiality may need to be breached such as when you or someone else may be at risk.

The frame

Within the realm of family and systemic therapy, we employ a term called the therapeutic framework which refers to the physical and contractual boundaries that ease the therapeutic process. Each therapist may have their own version of the frame, and may include details such as the time and location of sessions, confidentiality agreements, and fees. This also protects the intimate relationship you have with your therapist and establishes boundaries.

Ongoing sessions

It’s easy for clients to keep coming to therapy for long periods once they get into the rhythm and notice the many benefits that therapy has to offer. However, this is dependent on the client and their goals. You can speak with your therapist about ongoing sessions if you feel this is something you’d like to do.

If you are unsure of the type of therapy you need, you can search for a therapist here.

What is family and systemic psychotherapy?

Family and systemic psychotherapy is also known interchangeably as ‘family therapy’ or ‘systemic psychotherapy’. It refers to the different systems and patterns that have developed within a family or between family members. For example, two siblings falling into rigid roles of the ‘golden child’ and the ‘responsible child’, which continues into adulthood and poses limits for both.

A family and systemic therapist will work with the whole family, looking at different factors that will affect people within the system in order to help everyone understand each other better, develop better ways of communicating, and create a more supportive and healthy environment

When is family and systemic psychotherapy helpful?

Family and systemic psychotherapy is useful when a family is experiencing difficulties such as:

• Relationship difficulties between a couple
• Parent separation, divorce, or problems within a step-family
• Eating disorders within the family
• When a child or adolescent is experiencing mental health issues
• Drug and alcohol misuse within the family
• The effects of trauma on individuals within a family or on the family as a whole
• Death in the family
• Parenting issues
• Illness or disability within the family
• Self-harm within the family
• Difficulties related to big changes in the family, such as ageing or relocation

Family and systemic therapy can work with people in any form of relationship, including:

• Couples
• Families
• Professional groups
• Teams
• Businesses
• Groups
• Carers

Benefits of family and systemic psychotherapy

Family and systemic psychotherapy can offer many benefits to the whole family, including:

• Improved communication and open dialogue.
• Understanding relationship dynamics better by exploring how each member contributes to the family and is affected by the family system.
• Reducing blame and promoting shared responsibility by helping families work collaboratively to bring about change.
• Supporting life transitions of individuals within the family or the family as a whole, such as divorce, caring for elderly parents, and more.
• Healing intergenerational emotional or behavioural patterns to help family members make more conscious choices.
• Enhancing the emotional resilience of families during crises such as illness, loss, trauma, or breakdowns in communication.
• Helping a family or group come to terms with loss and grief.

Our family and systemic psychotherapists Brighton and Lewes

At Brighton and Hove psychotherapy we have a couple of practitioners who work with families. Please use our search function to look for a therapist in Hove or Lewes.

Why choose Brighton and Hove Psychotherapy

At Brighton and Hove Psychotherapists, we have a team of qualified therapists who specialise in dealing with families. Each session is tailored to the issues you have been facing, and we work closely with you to offer compassionate support tailored to the unique needs of your family or relationship group. With highly qualified therapists, tailored support, and accessible locations in Brighton, Hove, and Lewes, we’re the number one choice for family and systemic therapy.