Family therapy is a safe space where you and your family can build communication, trust and relationships. If you are second-guessing or need an extra push, we let you in on what family therapy is, how to get started, and what to expect.
What is Family Therapy?
Amelia Schwartz, a registered counsellor in Cape Town, says that family therapy should be considered for those who have communication problems and can’t seem to get past them. There are different methods to doing family therapy, but ultimately the counsellor acts as ‘mediator’, with the goal of addressing conflicts of the family as a unit. These may be emotional, mental, behavioural, financial or marital.
What You’ll Learn
Skills that Amelia mentions arising in family therapy are:
Building boundary techniques: Create a space where your children can feel that they are comfortable enough to talk to you as a parent. Don’t micromanage them, and allow certain things within reason.
Communication skills: Is what you’re saying coming across the way you want others to hear it? Is your body language saying something different? Do you show children respect by going down to their level?
Expectations: Be clear about what your expectations are. Don’t tell them ‘clean the house’ without giving them specific chores. This blurs the lines between what is expected from them.
What to Expect
Amelia explains that family – and most other therapy – will spend at least 2 sessions building communication skills, trust and boundaries. This occurs as a foundation to set no harsh or inferior feelings among individuals. ‘And [the family] can start seeing the other’s perspective’ Amelia says. ‘It isn’t a thing of going, you all say something, and then you leave. It must be a safe space, it must be explained to the family that nothing [they] say is a personal attack’.
Get in touch with Amelia
Website: ameliaschwartzcounselling.co.za
Email: info@ameliaschwartzcounselling.co.za
Phone: 081 802 5530
Originally published in print by Saadiqah Schroeder
Photography credits: Getty Images
Also see: Parenting style
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