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Usually, when we decide to start therapy it is because we have a problem in the present that generates discomfort or pain, and we do not have enough resources to handle the situation adequately. Sometimes the problem may have been in our life for some time (months, years); other times, something sudden happens which makes us seek help immediately. Regardless of the time we have been living with the problem, when we decide to start therapy is when the problem starts to interfere significantly with different areas of our lives (personal, family, work, academic, couple, etc.).

During therapy, our therapist will ask questions to understand how the problem manifests (symptoms), how long we have been living with the problem and how it impacts different areas of our life. Our therapist will also ask questions about our childhood, adolescence and adulthood, but especially, he/she will want to deepen in early childhood experiences with our parents or people whom we grew up with.

How long have you been seeing families at Sinews?

I have been seeing families in therapy at Sinews since I joined the team in 2017. This is an element of my practice that I really enjoy as, unlike working one-on-one, working with the whole family paints a fuller picture of the some of the problems or history that has been faced. It allows the psychologist to “zoom out”, see the wider picture and access an abundance of information which is harder to get at through individual therapy.   

What sort of problems are addressed in family therapy?

Family therapy can help address any number of issues, but it’s main focus is on difficulties in the dynamics between the family members. Family therapy can be most helpful when poor or little communication between family members results in conflict within the family, something which can cause much distress. Family therapy can be a great tool in helping to manage situations involving mental health diagnoses, substance abuse or addictions, behavioural problems or academic difficulties in children, a death or illness in the family, caring for a family member with special needs or an impending divorce or separation, especially when there are children involved.