No family is perfect and every family deals with various issues at some point. Family counseling is a way to create better relationships and understanding within a family.
Counseling may help with specific issues, such as the death of a family member or pending divorce. It can also address the needs of the family when one family member’s continued negative behavior or habits, such as a parent with a hoarding disorder or child with extreme defiance, impacts the welfare of the whole family. Family counseling does not make problems disappear, but it can be a powerful, loving and effective way to help repair broken or damaged relationships that disrupt a family.
Counselors assess the structure of the family and ask what the rules/roles are of the family. They also pay attention to the hierarchy, habits and communication patterns which often defines the functionality, or lack thereof, of the family as a whole. With counseling, families learn how to:
- communicate better
- build or strengthen bonds
- build self-esteem
- create a more peaceful home environment
- build tolerance for differences
- create a more loving and happy family
Tips for a healthy family:
- Eat dinner together as a family
- Immerse into healthy conversation
- Have open lines of communication
- Set appropriate boundaries
- Eat healthy home-cooked food
- Enjoy the family’s favorite activities together
- Have a consistent schedule
- Allow you and your kid’s free time
- Verbalize expectations
