Family Counselling Services in York, ON.

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.

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

You might seek family therapy if family members are struggling with sibling or parent conflict, parenting differences, adjusting to teenage years, divorce/separation, feeling alone with your family, unable to express your feelings to your family members, feeling like you’re not meeting someone’s expectations or coping with a family member’s mental illness or addiction. Working with a family therapist can help family members feel heard and valued and bring harmony to your family system. We can help you learn to communicate effectively, set healthy boundaries and learn coping mechanisms to help manage difficult family dynamics.

Within each family are the experiences of each family member. In family therapy, you, and your family can explore how each member’s roles and perspectives impact the family as a whole. You can learn to cultivate a family environment grounded in respect for individual experiences, sense of connection and shared understanding. I work with individuals, couples and families. Book a free consultation to explore if we are a good fit for therapy.

Families are complicated systems will all sorts of problems, often due to misunderstandings. I have worked with many families to improve communication leading to more harmonious living situations. This often takes some compromise. I would be happy to work with your family to help you understand each other and live more peacefully. *I work with children and parents who are divorced however I do not work with families where custody is in dispute. I do not provide custody assessments.*

Families can be tough. No doubt about it. I'd be more worried if a family got along 100% of the time. Conflict is an opportunity to bring us closer together. And with the right tools of communication and conflict resolution, based upon the theories of Emotion-focused therapy, we can get there together.

We use an eclectic approach to family therapy and ensure that all parties involved feel heard and understood. We first like to hear from all parties what your goals and needs are in the therapy space, and how we can approach therapy in the most respectful way. The therapeutic space allows for slowing down of conflict patterns, which can assist with reaching resolution and understanding.

Family dynamics can be challenging to navigate even during the best of times, and family therapy can help each member of the family unit find new ways to relate, connect, and communicate with each other. Giving each family member the chance to feel heard and valued while also navigating external stressors like work and school can be a struggle, so I work collaboratively with clients to identify and explore patterns of interaction that they want to strengthen or change, while highlighting each member’s contributions, and celebrating the family’s successes. Book a free consultation to learn more about my approach and explore if we are a good fit.

Family can often be the single most powerful element in our mental health journey. Like any relationship though, families often struggle with communication, forgiveness and conflict resolution. At Whiteboard we employ evidence-based techniques to help families heal and become whole again. These techniques not only involve patience and skill, they also require the lived experience that many of our counsellors have at our clinic.

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.

The cliché goes “we don’t choose family, they are chosen for us”. All families experience difficulties in their relationships with each other. This is normal as multiple personalities are at play. Family counselling incorporates the use of different theories with the task being to define the problem from individual’s perspectives. Ultimately the goal of attaining cohesiveness within the family is reached by every member acknowledging and understanding each other’s feelings and perspectives about unresolved issues.

In Family Therapy, I work with all family members to improve communication, resolve conflicts, and strengthen family dynamics. Each family member’s perspective is valued, and we focus on fostering understanding and empathy within the family unit. Using a blend of systems theory and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), I help families address patterns of behavior that contribute to tension or disconnection. My approach encourages open dialogue, promotes emotional support, and helps families develop healthier coping strategies, leading to stronger, more resilient relationships that support every member’s well-being.

We are made for both being in relationships, and for being unique in our individuality. Putting these together in a way that honours both individuals and the family as a whole is an ongoing challenge. Our goals in family counselling is to clarify what those challenges are, the factors which contribute to them, and ways of resolving issues so the family and its members can not only survive, but can thrive.