Family Therapy – All you need to know
Family Therapy – All you need to know
In a 2019 article, the Australian Psychological Society reported that 1.2 million Australians see a psychologist through Medicare. In 2021, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported that 3.4 million people saw a medical professional such as a psychologist or therapist for their mental health. If you’re not sure if family therapy is right for you, let the Energetics Institute teach you everything you need to know about family therapy.
Demand for family therapists is likely to grow in the 2020s as people recuperate from the challenges of COVID. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, for example, predicted a growth of 16% (“much faster than average”) for marriage and family therapy between 2020 and 2030.
Although not everyone in Australia needs a therapist, the Perth therapists at the Energetics Institute want everyone to be aware of the resources available to them. Knowing that they have the option of professional family counselling in Perth residents will be more confident in seeking support for themselves and their loved ones.
What is Family Therapy?
Almost anyone who has a mental illness sees its effects on and from their family members.
- family conflicts provoke stress and can exacerbate mental disorders
- family members can enable harmful behaviour patterns
- individuals with mental disorders might seek (or reject) support from family
- family experiences shape the way people view their world
Family therapy is a branch of counselling that treats mental disorders and mental health not simply as an individual issue but in the context of the whole family. The therapist examines the emotions, attachment styles, relationships, values, and conflicts of family members to understand the context for mental disorders and develop treatments that nurture and support constructive family bonds.
Types of Family Therapy
There are many different ways to help families cope with mental illness, handle everyday stress and achieve stronger relationships and mental well-being. Family therapists use various techniques, either alone or in combination, to heal family rifts, help families cope, and provide a more robust family support structure for people with mental illness.
Psycho-Education
Psychoeducation (sometimes psychoeducation) uses teaching to help family members address mental health issues more constructively. Family members often misunderstand the nature of their loved ones’ mental conditions, which can lead to:
- ostracism
- blame
- manipulative behaviour
- frustration
- low self-worth
Suppose a family therapist finds that the family’s understanding of mental illness does not match our current scientific view of mental illness. In that case, they might create structured interventions to teach family members how to cope with and respond to mental illness in more productive ways.
Teaching Coping Skills
A significant source of stress and trigger for negative family interactions is a feeling of frustration or helplessness in the face of a mental health issue. Consider a child who has a learning disability or behaviour disorder. Parents might lash out at the child, or vice-versa because neither the child nor the parents know any better ways to deal with the issue.
Family therapists work to change that dynamic by providing evidence-based skills and strategies that family members can use to handle challenges more productively. This helps reinforce empathetic and understanding communication between family members.
Behavioural Models
Different approaches to family therapy draw upon different conceptual frameworks in their approach to family therapy. For example, some approaches might focus more on family members’ thoughts, beliefs, and understanding. In contrast, other models focus on positive and negative behaviours that clients and family members exhibit when they interact with one another.
Behavioural models are important because they target the specific behaviours and behavioural patterns that can be toxic, such as lying, manipulation, emotional outbursts, as well as behaviours that are a direct manifestation of mental disorders.
Systemic Models
Systemic models in family therapy focus on how the different family members relate to each other. In systemic family therapy, the therapist strives to be a neutral mediator between family members, helping to guide the family as a whole toward a more positive and productive dynamic.
One approach to systemic family therapy (the Milan school) used techniques like hypothesis formation and asking circular questions.
Structural Family Therapy
As its name suggests, structural family therapy aims to create, reinforce, and develop structures within the family that promote healthy development and interaction. In comparison with systemic family therapy, the therapist plays a more active than a facilitative role in structural family therapy. The therapist teaches family members to respect boundaries and ensures that every family member has a voice and a constructive role within the family structure.
Post Milan Family Therapy
The post-Milan approach to family therapy developed as an outgrowth of the Milan school. It adopts a more postmodern approach. Rather than directly question the family and provoke change through questioning, a post-Milan family therapist will try to help the family develop its own questions and formulate its own ideas about how the family works.
Solution-Focused Therapy
Other therapies focus on the behavioural symptoms of family conflict and mental illness or promote structures of family organization that nurture positive family dynamics. Solution-focused therapy does not dwell on the causes of problems but adopts a hopeful attitude and focuses on the future.
When Is Family Therapy Required?
It is an excellent idea to pursue family therapy if family relationships play an essential role in the manifestation and treatment of mental illness and the achievement of long-term psychological well-being. The active involvement of the family is vital in family therapy, so it is important to encourage family members to be open to the concept before starting a course of family therapy.
Symptoms that Suggest Your Family Needs Therapy
Family therapy explores the social context around an individual’s mental condition, including the experience of mental illness and the search for mental well-being. Your family might benefit from family therapy if:
- mental illness is causing disruption and negative social interactions within the family.
- you have mental illness and need family support to cope
- toxic interactions within a family are making it difficult to treat a client’s mental illness
- parenting styles and generational conflicts perpetuate situations that interfere with self-actualization and the search for mental well-being.
What Is Involved in Family Therapy?
When it comes to family therapy, Australia and its diverse population require an adaptive approach that considers the unique needs of each client and each family. The therapist will usually talk to the client first about their concerns, expectations, and goals for therapy, counselling, and life in general. The therapist will then speak to the client about their family history and current family situation, being sensitive to and aware of how the client’s family can help or hinder them.
Once the therapist understands the family structure and the role of family members, the therapist might reach out to members of the family and ask them to participate in family therapy. This can often spark adverse reactions and defensiveness. However, if family members can see that they, the client, and the therapist are on the same side, they can work together to establish better communication.
Factors to Consider Before Enrolling for Family Therapy
Education & Experience of Therapist
Tips for Building a Healthy Relationship: When selecting a therapist, it’s important to consider their credentials, such as a PhD or PsyD in psychology, MD in psychiatry, or master’s degree in social work, counseling or a related field. Additionally, make sure the therapist is a member of a professional organization and has certifications and licenses in family therapy, indicating their professional experience and training in this area.
Location and Availability
If you are looking for a family therapist in your area, be sure that their location is convenient for you and open during the hours you need them.
The Perth therapy practice at the Energetics Institute has its office in Inglewood, Western Australia, a suburb of Perth. We are open from 10 AM to 7 PM from Monday through Saturday, providing convenient access for residents of Perth and nearby towns and cities.
Length and Number of Sessions
How many sessions a client needs will depend on their progress and the complexity of the issues they need to address.
Fees & Insurance
Paying for mental health services can be an additional source of stress and an obstacle to obtaining quality mental health care. Compare prices and enquire about insurance when considering potential therapists.
What to Expect in Family Therapy? (Outcome of Family Therapy)
Knowing everything you need to know about family therapy also means knowing what it can offer you. Family therapy aims to promote positive family interactions and supportive relationships within families that help to minimize the adverse effects of mental illness, provide coping skills, and reduce the stressors that negatively affect the quality of life. To promote awareness of our therapeutic approach at the Energetics Institute, we want to teach you everything you need to know about family therapy.
How Does Family Therapy Work?
There are many different ways to implement and structure family therapy. Ideally, at some point, there should be face-to-face meetings with family members to discuss the situation and to allow the therapist to observe and reflect upon social interactions. There will also be individual consultations with the client. Virtual meetings might enable therapists to involve other family members if group meetings are not feasible.
Family Therapy Exercises
During family therapy, clients and their families might participate in therapeutic exercises such as:
- role-playing
- group discussions
- circular questioning
- art therapy
- music therapy
- psychoeducation
- skills training
Benefits of Family Therapy
Family therapy can benefit clients and their families in many ways, such as:
- promoting healthy bonds between family members
- nurturing family structures where every person has a say
- providing support to clients with mental illness
- understanding and addressing sources of stress and toxicity in family relationships
Cost of Family Therapy
The Energetics Institute charges between $175 per 55-minute session for 3 family members and $200 for 4 or more family members.
Conclusion
Family therapy offers clients a chance to address the relationship between mental illness and their family environment. It provides an opportunity for them to resolve family issues and create a family support network that helps them overcome obstacles and achieve lasting well-being.
FAQs
Where can I find a Family Therapist Near Me?
Many patients wonder, “where can I find family therapy near me?” Your insurance provider or local government office might be able to suggest mental health providers in your area and help you discover everything you need to know about family therapy.
What Qualities Should I Look for in a Perth Family Therapist?
Your therapists should be communicative, empathetic, willing to listen, insightful, and capable of developing and implementing evidence-based and solution-focused treatments.
The Energetics Institute is a trusted provider of therapeutic services, including marriage and family therapy, functional therapy, group therapy, psychotherapy, and trauma therapy. To schedule an appointment or to learn everything you need to know about family therapy, please give us a call at 0414 897024 today.