Family Counselling Services in Madoc, ON.

Being a parent is hard. There are no instruction manuals and no guidebooks. We all become parents aware that it's the most important job we'll ever do, so now is the time to stop feeling frustrated and anxious, burned out and ineffective. My experience in working with parents and my training in solid parenting theory will combine with your vision for your family and your own personal approach to parenting to create the family harmony you're looking for. End the fighting, nagging, and disconnection with personalized strategies and tools designed just for your family. Don't let another day slip by feeling as though you can't get through to those you love the most. Your family is worth it!

All families are the same and all families are different. Therapy is based on the family as an organised social unit that goes through phases of gradual but emotionally-charged change. Roles and functions often collide with personal needs and changing individual needs and hormonal behaviours that will clash with parenting styles triggering power struggles. Family dynamics must find a way to balance the conflicting childrens' needs to assert distinct identities while integrating conflicting parental values. Family therapy is difficult but growth-inducing for all but I find it helpful to see individuals separately for them to express ideas and feelings freely as it helps with communication.

My family therapy approach involves seeing the whole family initially to understand each person's unique perspective, provide safety for each person to express themselves and to give each person the opportunity to determine their comfort level with me as therapist. I will then work with parts of the family (eg, siblings, parents, dyads such as Mother/Child, Father/Child, Sib/Sib) to support recognition of the unique cycle each group/dyad experiences as problematic in having the closeness and safety they desire within the family. I use Emotion Focused Family Therapy which is based on attachment research and which acknowledges our need to be known and loved by family members.

Life is particularly difficult for families these days. With the challenges of both parents working, the confusing world of social networking and technology, social peer relations conflicts, confusing alignments in the separated/divorced and blended parenting roles, it is no wonder that families get lost. In my sessions, a trusting warm and safe environment is established where clients feel that they can share their concerns and be heard. Through CBT and mediation, the family is given strategies to assist them in getting their family unit working together with the goal of “getting back on track”. Organizational tools and reasonable expectations are important key strategies also given.

Family therapy is aimed at addressing and improving the dynamics within a family unit. By involving all members in the therapeutic process, family therapy aims to uncover and resolve issues that affect the family's overall functioning and relationships. My goal is to work collaboratively with the family to discover the family dynamics and systems that exist and to facilitate improved communication and connection between its members. Ideally, family therapy aims to help members support each other’s emotional needs in the here and now, ultimately promoting a healthier and more cohesive family environment. Book a free 15-minute consultation with me to see if I’m the right fit for you.

Family dynamics are complicated. Each family has established patterns, such as how everyone communicates within the family system, how they deal with stressful situations and conflict, their roles in the family unit and how members seek support from one another. Reach out to schedule a free 15-minute family therapy consultation to see if I am the right fit for your family.

When working with families I aim to focus on common ground and shared hopes and goals. This sets the stage for collaboratively working through conflicts so that common goals can be achieved. Focusing on positive family experiences and strengths of the family are also helpful in reconnecting family members. Understanding relationship patterns and encouraging new ways of communicating and interacting often allows families to practice different ways of being with and understanding one another and can often alleviate tension for more pleasurable family experiences.

We all learn differently, express differently, and quite often perceive experiences differently because we bring a different "lens" and that is why your counsellor needs to be CREATIVE and FLEXIBLE. As parents we feel a deep responsibility to be these great parents and raise remarkable kids, but life isn't so easy and we are far from perfect. We need to give ourselves a break sometimes because we are only doing the best we can with what we have. Sometimes we just need a little help along the way. No matter how large your family is, lets find solutions and have FUN while we are doing it!

Families can be messy. But it doesn't have to be that way. Family therapy is a great option for those looking to overcome conflict, deepen connections, or learn more about each other's perspectives to better understand one another. By breaking down relationships, patterns, and communication habits, your family can build a stronger foundation rooted in your values and develop the tools to function effectively as a team.

It might not be spoken about overly openly in society, but, the truth is it's not uncommon for any relationship dynamic to undergo tension at some point or another - especially in today's world. Having a neutral third party can be helpful in helping two (or more) people get on the same page. It's not about pointing out flaws or concluding who is in the wrong; instead, it's about finding alternative ways to view the situation and even learning how to see the situation from the other person's shoes.

It can be hard to adjust and interact with the person growing from the baby you once knew, particularly if you are motivated to help them avoid all the mistakes that you experienced in your life. For your child, it can feel impossible to be understood by you, especially when you find it hard to be understood by them. I can help you build a stronger bond through mutual respect and shared understanding by leveling the playing field that may be dominating your parent-child relationship. You might be surprised just how quickly things can change when you can engage in a well facilitated discussion that seeks to improve things, rather than trying to mold things to fit your expectations.

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.

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.