A Few Notes On Family Counseling Ontario Residents May Find Useful

By Jeffrey Morgan


For one reason or the other, every normal family unit is faced with misunderstanding and lack of agreement on some issues from time to time. These issues could range from the very simple ones such as parents depicting special liking for a given child at the expense of other children to more complex matters such as property wrangles, sudden loss of a loved one in the family, drug misuse and violence among others. Needless to say, counseling is a life saver in situations like this. These are some of the concepts on family counseling Ontario residents may find beneficial.

There are several techniques employed in therapy. Commonly used techniques include the strategic approach, structural and use of the narrative technique. When the counselor trains participants into adopting a different way of day to day operation, this is referred to as the structural technique. It is most useful for families whose structure is already distorted from the onset. A classic example is where children who have been through many foster homes reunite with their estranged parents.

Another approach is the use of strategy by the therapist. In this case, members are observed as they interact during the sessions. The therapist notes how each individual interacts with other people in the group. It could be that some members relate well while only particular ones are at loggerheads. Making such important observations enables the therapist to guide the family in sorting out underlying issues.

Therapy is important for individuals to differentiate between the actual problem and the person causing the problem. It emphasizes more on circumstances surrounding the issue rather than focusing on the perpetrator. For instance, a child may show rebellious tendencies simply because they are not receiving the much needed attention from the parents. Parents on the other hand may not be there for their children because of being overworked by their supervisors in the work place. At the end of day, it makes individuals work out problems with each other without being hateful.

In most instances, finding someone to blame only works to put the family further apart. It is for this reason that some therapists gear their sessions towards finding remedies instead of taking time to know the exact cause of wrangles. This approach is worthwhile because participants emerge stronger in relating to one another.

In cases where feuds are caused by a single family member, it is important that the rest of the members are engaged in therapy sessions. This shows that everyone is interested in restoring unity. It also shows the concerned individual that the rest of are supportive and that they have no hatred for them. It is worth noting that a single rot in the unit can result in damage to the whole unit hence the need to always show concern.

Counseling provides an opportunity for participants to share feelings regarding various issues. It helps to relieve tension and promote a relaxed interaction between members. Freely conversing with one another is, as a matter of fact, therapeutic in itself.

As a way of conclusion, it should be stated that the success pf therapy depends on the skills of the therapist. Referrals can be obtained through recommendations by relatives, friends and colleagues. Each therapist may have their unique way of handling the situation but usually the goal is the same which is to restore unity among all members of the family.




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