Family Counselling Services in Scugog, ON.

Families undergo constant change as each member strives to learn, grow and develop individually and in relation to others. Stress and challenges are a normal part of family development and, at times, these can become "too much" to handle alone. When arguments, disagreements, confusion and conflict arise it can be quite helpful to draw upon an experienced family systems specialist. Assessing and prioritizing concerns and developing a game plan for improving communication, relationships and overall functioning is available. Teamwork require good coaches (parents/caregivers) and good coaches benefit from training. Problem-solving, mediation and stress management coaching improves family.

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.

I provide a safe, supportive space for families to explore challenges, improve communication, and strengthen connections. Together, we work to identify patterns, navigate conflicts, and develop strategies that foster understanding, cooperation, and emotional resilience among family members. Clients benefit by experiencing clearer communication, healthier relationships, and a stronger sense of unity, while each family member gains tools to manage stress, resolve conflicts constructively, and create a more balanced, supportive, and harmonious home environment.

Most family therapists inadvertently create more chaos through their well-intentioned efforts to assist a family move through a change process. Why? Brains are inherently deregulated (all of us, may I add) and most talking and dialoguing misses brain-centric problems that need more intensive help. Many times the emotional trauma created by years of solving problems ineffectively can wreak havoc on the brain's parasympathetic nervous system, not ever giving the family a break from flight or fight thinking. Contact us for an innovative neuroscience solution to family dysfunction. Kevin@kevinflemingphd.com or 877-606-6161.

I view the family as a system. Each individual in the family has a part in how well the system functions. Sometimes the components of the system are imbalanced so that some are over-functioning, and some may be underfunctioning. I work with families to tweak and adjust the system to help it to run more smoothly such as the parents relationship, parent-child and sibling relationships, roles within the family, parenting and communication styles, individual/couple/family needs. Sometimes factors such as addictions and mental health also need to be addressed. Families learn healthy new ways to function and are happier post therapy.

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. While I do not offer family therapy sessions, my clinic, Psychotherapy Collective has many child and family therapists availability to schedule a free 15-minute consultation to ensure they are the proper fit for your journey. Visit our family therapy page to find a therapist https://www.psychotherapycollective.ca/services/child-and-family-therapy

In family therapy, the focus is on the interactions of those that are affected by the presenting concern and strengthening relationships of the family system. Although some concerns may appear to apply to one individual, involvement of family can have positive benefits on both the individual and overall family functioning. While family therapy may often focus on child-parent relationships, other loved ones such as grandparents, caregivers, siblings etc. are invited to attend where you see fit. As the therapist, I strive to help facilitate a space in which each family member has equal opportunity to share their experiences and perspectives. Contact me today to book a free consultation.

Are you a parent challenged by the illness of a child? Do you feel exhausted & sad at times? Has your partnership or marriage become strained? Is your family unit having trouble staying positive and enjoying one another due to stress and anxiety? I can help you develop coping strategies, restore balance, and manage the day to day challenges using brief solution focused therapy.

Families are very complex systems, we all know that. We love each other but that love may not be all you need to understand the needs and behaviors we have in order to make the most of the relationship. Having a neutral, caring and educated professional to support you and guide you might be necessary in some cases when you depleted your resources and you feel like you are going around in circles. If this resonates with your situation do not hesitate to contact me, you can be sure to find a safe and not judgmental space to work through the family challenges.