Family Counselling Services in St Marys, ON.

Family therapy is a wonderful way to tackle family issues. It usually means learning to communicate differently and more effectively. Each family has its spoken and unspoken family rules. Helping these unspoken rules to become more visible or to revise current ones, can clarify misconceptions and assumptions. Since every family has unique problems, they also have unique solutions as well! Therapy can help a family to "see themselves in a whole new light" and realize they have everything they need to make their lives even better.

As a parent or caregiver it may be confusing about meeting the needs and children and youth with mental health difficulties. Children and youth may function well at home, but struggle in school or peer situations. Some may struggle with depression or anxiety, while others struggle with issues of anger management, substance use, or defiance. I will work with your family to develop healthy communication skills, set appropriate boundaries, and if necessary create a behaviour management plan.

I believe that families should be a place where love, respect, value, care, support and encouragement are received consistently. Where children honour and obey their parents and parents are considerate and understanding towards their children as they strategically and intentionally raise their children. Through counseling, I can help to develop healthy relationships between family members in general and between parents and children specifically. It is possible to have a healthy and happy family.

I would use the Systems Theory and Narrative approach to help families communicate what they view as the concerns within their family. Also using Middle Path, from DBT, as an approach to bridge the dialectical views between the individuals in the family which is causing conflict. Validating the different perspectives as individuals and looking for the kernal of truth, allows them to see the bigger picture through the lens of other members within the family.

Navigating complex and changing family dynamics can be difficult and lead to unhelpful and unhealthy family interactions. I am here to support and facilitate open dialogue and positive changes to help strengthen families. Listening and engaging with family members in a way that promotes trust, respect, and openness is allows support of not only each individual family member but also the family unit.

Familial units can oftentimes become caught in cycles of miscommunication and misinterpretation that builds up and solidifies through the years. My approach to working with families is identifying such cycles and unearthing and understanding each member’s intentions. I believe that more often than not, family members have good intentions, and when this is brought to light, defenses can soften, and the healing process can ensue. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to ensure we are a good fit.

The ‘secret’ to successful help for distressed families is clear-eyed application of what we commonly know: although linked by blood, generations and/or commitment alone, we are much more different from one another than alike. But it can be very hard to appreciate some differences at such close range. Like when our child, partner, parent, sibling, or combinations (and with moods/ other changes, do we ever stay the same?) seem out to hurt instead of love or even like us. Some differences make that hard to attain, even impossible. Yet making sense and discovering how to ‘navigate’ these complex primary relationships is essential to our wellbeing. My experience as family therapist is reliable.

If you drive with a flat tire the whole system is affected. Your car will not go smoothly nor straight. You use lots of effort trying to get to where you want to go; and the passengers are stressed! The same happens in families. If there is a problem with one or more family members, we tend to point at him/ her/ them. We want to "fix" them. However, I believe there are more than one way to look at the same situation: it is usually a systemic problem. Join the whole family in therapy. In a safe and friendly environment, you can each be heard and seen as you really are, and together arrive at a solution. This can be a very rewarding, educational, FUN and loving experience for all.

Familial relationships are some of the most dynamic and complex connections we will have in our lifetime. With many individuals balancing their own inner worlds with those of other family members, our emotional experiences can easily become lost in the mix. In my work with families, I strive to provide each family member with space to share their perspective and to feel heard and respected. Exploring familial concerns within the context of therapy can present many moments for clarity, connection, bonding and healing. Contact me to begin your family’s journey to healing.

Family counselling with me uses a Family Systems and circle approach. This means we will discuss family dynamics and each family member’s role in it, what need this meets and how to relate in a healthier way. I also use a circle approach to ensure all family members have a voice and can share in a safe, caring space that we will create together.

Family therapy works because each of us is really also like a small group - with parent, child, sibling aspects (part selves) within us. It’s as if you personally contain an internal family. So when your own actual family is working well, those 'sides' of the family members do learn with each other. But they can also clash... Family (or couple) therapy is about harmonizing these relationships, both in each person as well as within the family group. I have over 35 years of experience in family therapy and see positive change occur even in tough situations. Family members move past simple role routines of who Mom, Dad, son and daughter are Supposed to Be, more aware of how to live in harmony.

I am a Family therapist with experience in a children's mental health setting. I do parental coaching, helping parents find effective strategies, and I help blended families find a way to integrate those big changes smoothly. I will help you understand each other, we will identify the behavioural patterns that no longer work for you and develop new strategies for effective communication.

Families can experience stress, conflict and fall apart at any stages of the life cycle. Blended families also pose a great deal of stress no matter what the age is of the children involved. I meet with families as a group to explore areas which are causes distress. I offer support to immediate and extended family to regain balanced family ties. Through offering everyone a chance to express themselves and reflect on problems that interfere with family relationships we will work through issues to offer resolutions and peace of mind.

Families are constantly growing and changing. Just when parents feel they have a handle on a stage, something changes and the rules change. Communication, empathy, and compassion are needed in order to navigate family dynamics effectively. Especially tough times are supporting the independance of teenagers while maintaining safety and a positive relationship. Together we will create a safe environment where everyone feels heard and respected so that we can explore relationship patterns, reactions, and resilience. We will focus on what's working and build on your family's unique strengths.