Family Counselling Services in Burlington, ON.

Family therapy is in many ways the most difficult of all therapy’s simply because you have the issues of not just one person but also all involved. There is a multiplication factor equal to the number within the family plus the dynamic of how the family organizes itself around communication, conflict, and intimacy and supports it. All successful families do two things extremely well . . . create a sense of belonging and allow for the freedom to be an individual. When I work with families I bring over twenty five years of experience to every session. Almost 100% of us across the nation . . . when asked what is the most important thing in our life, will answer ‘family’!

Family relationships are complex and are oftentimes impacted by various events, life transitions, and societal shifts. I believe that every family is unique and that your efforts to navigate challenges are valid and purposeful. As a family therapist, my aim is to help you strengthen your relationships with one another and to support you in finding a balance between your individual and family needs. I also help you to identify possible areas of stuckness and conflict as well as strengths and resources, so that together, we can create hoped-for solutions. Contact me or book a free consultation if you wish to learn more.

Families are complicated. This is why we work from a family systems approach as we do not believe that one person is the problem, but rather we look at ways to improve the overall family system so that things can flow more smoothly for all. Our family therapy can involve some, or all, family members. The focus of family therapy is to allow for everyone to feel heard, identify family strengths, and make adjustments for areas of improvement.

Conflict and other issues often challenge the integrity of the family. Poor communication can be one of the main contributors. Many families give up unnecessarily, leaving minimal or even no contact between family members. Family therapy can help individuals understand the root of the dysfunction and open respectful lines of communication presenting the potential for healthy family relationships. Learning to let go of the past, healthy communication and conflict resolution can often lay the foundation to build a solid future of healthy relationships.

I am a firm believer that nothing impacts our spiritual and emotional well-being or happiness more than the quality of our closest relationships. There are countless complicating factors that impact families, it may be blending families, parenting differences, ex-spouses or in-law problems, financial stress and health problems, to name a few. Family therapy addresses the psychological and emotional problems hurting families. Interventions are customized to the requirements, needs and directions of clients. The goal is to empower the family to function in a way that better meets the emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of each member and the family system as a whole.

Family therapy often benefits from a client-centered approach. Throughout our sessions, we will focus on communication and the openness to share one’s feelings honestly. Using exercises, we will work on improving communication, listening skills and emotional honesty. The use of behavior therapy may also be incorporated where we seek to recognize and change destructive behavior patterns. Use of these approaches encourages families to engage in healthy communication styles and break habitual cycles of unhealthy behaviors.

As a family therapist, I witness the transformative power of family therapy every day. It offers a unique opportunity for families to come together in a safe and supportive environment, fostering understanding, communication, and healing. Through therapy, families can address underlying conflicts, improve relationship dynamics, and develop healthier ways of relating to one another. By exploring family patterns, beliefs, and behaviors, we uncover root causes of distress and work collaboratively to implement positive changes. Family therapy empowers individuals to express themselves authentically while promoting empathy and connection among family members.

Navigating the complexities of parent-child relationships and the dynamics of being parents or siblings can be challenging, especially during transitions or conflicts. I specialize in online dyadic family therapy work, where I work with parents, parent-child pairs, or sibling dyads to enhance understanding, communication, and harmony within your family unit. Let's embark on a journey to build stronger connections and create a nurturing environment together. Reach out for a free consultation, and let's take the first step towards a happier, more harmonious family life.

My background in relational therapy allows me to understand individuals through the relationships they cohabit. Families come in various forms and sizes, and at times, navigating through these relational dynamics and understanding differing perspectives may be difficult. Throughout our time together, we will work to make each member’s voice heard, find ways of communication that feel helpful, and establish and restore connection. Please reach out for a free consultation to see if we are a good fit.

Sometimes the difficulties occurring in a family are systemic - which means that there is not really a 'problem person' but a family interaction malfunction. In family counselling, it is understood that everyone in the family impacts and affects everyone else and the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. It is also understood that the way to 'fix' a family problem is not by simply changing specific behaviours, but by changing the structure of the family. This can be a very important process for the many different types of families that we have in our society.

A common problem that I see when helping families is that parents struggle to get their kids to finish tasks, stay organized, and cannot motivate them to do, well, anything. “Unless it’s YouTube or a video game they’re just not interested and I don’t want them always depend on me for everything.” There are a number of tools and methodologies that can help with these problems. It does take time and commitment; however, with the right support and guidance easier, friction-free, happier days are very possible.