Family Counselling Services in Oakville, ON.

My approaches to family therapy involves first recognizing the family system that exists. This includes identifying the different roles that each family member play within the system. In addition, an exploration of the communication styles, individual characteristics and behaviour patterns of each member of the family will help understand why potential conflicts or disagreements are occurring.

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.

Family therapy is a process for everyone to feel heard, understood and that their needs matter. From the youngest to the eldest all our needs matter. Through a process of growing empathy for each other, we can explore creative ways where everyone can get their needs met and everyone can have space to be themselves. Sometimes we all get confused about what we are really wanting. So often conflict and misunderstandings create isolation in even the most loving families. Our work together is to make the time and space to understand each other and find the way back from conflict to connection.

The Refuge's can support your family to heal and recover from a variety of life challenges, including trauma, addictions, eating disorders, grief and loss, separation and divorce, conflict, complex family dynamics, and other transitions and stressors. Our approach is trauma-specific, body- and emotion-focused, and grounded in attachment theory, neuroscience and family systems to help you and your loved ones restore respectful communication, mutual understanding, repair attachment injuries, develop emotion regulation skills, promote attuned parenting, and reconnect with joy and enjoyment with one another. Our team offers individual, couples and family sessions.

Dr. Van Blyderveen, Dr. Saliba, and Dr. Brunet each offer family therapy at New Leaf Psychology Centre. Through family therapy, you and your family will learn to communicate more effectively with one another, better understand each other, and experience more frequent moments of closeness. Attention will be given to balancing the relationship quality with the different roles of parents and children. Dr. Saliba has a special interest in working with blended families, and Dr. Brunet has a special interest in facilitating attachment between young children (ages 0 through 6) and their parents.

"The idea that one of the best things you can do for your child is to create a loving relationship with your partner is not sentimental ... it's a scientific fact" - Susan Johnson, Hold Me Tight. More and more we realize that love is not a total mystery and that it can be scientifically understood. I will help you recognize how you are connected to and dependent on your partner in much the same way that a child is dependent on a parent for nurturing, soothing, and protection. The way to strengthen families is to build secure emotional connections, and for members to be emotionally open, attuned and responsive to each other.

For me, Family Therapy is distinctly different from any other form of therapy, as there are many stories to tell and many points of view to be shared. Because of my experience as a therapist and a parent, I understand how difficult it can be when the family unit is not functioning the way everyone wants it to. As a trained and experienced therapist, I can ensure that all of your family members feel heard and understood, and are willing to work together to help everyone reconnect.

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!

Family relationships can be complicated. All families have their own patterns, and unique sibling and parents/child relationships. I can help your family members communicate in different ways and change long standing patterns within the family unit. I can facilitate healing from past events and misunderstandings, and shift your family relationships into different life stages.

Families don't have to be perfect but when a family functions well, parents and children fulfill their roles, enjoy their life together and develop in a healthy way. A healthy family means that all of the members are involved, children are empowered and self esteem develops. As a therapist, I can assess family issues, direct you in appropriate roles and responsibilities and help you communicate more effectively.

Therapy can provide a safe environment for families that seek to repair their relationships. The problems generally stem from a much earlier time, when it was hard for family members to understand the nature of their conflict. Each person often has felt hurt and misunderstood, and these feelings have perpetuated over time. My approach is to encourage dialogue between them to help them understand the dynamics that have prevented a fulfilling relationship. I also try to establish the positive intentions of the work they are about to do. Therapy is intended to give them insight into what went wrong and how to repair the relationship while working through the difficult feelings and mistrust.

Everything relates to everything else, and families in all shapes and forms are no exception. Different ages, developmental levels in children, genders and or cultures need to be considered, when we try to establish a loving, respectful. proactive and supportive family team. I do believe, that the HOW, WHAT, WHEN and WHY of communication is what makes or breaks a family .... any relationship. Allow me to help you establish reasonable goals and find manageable solutions to challenges, which will improve your family's wellbeing. 905-842-3626

As a trained Marriage & Family Therapist, I can help you heal hurts in your most significant relationships. Misunderstandings and conflicts between parents and children, siblings or extended family can rob us of the joy in our relationships. My approach focuses on helping to build mutual understanding of one another and teaching strategies to improve communication and conflict resolution.