Families form an important part of the social fabric and support system and also play an integral role in the treatment process when an individual is afflicted with mental illness.
Even if only one member of the family is affected, the stigma of mental illness is not restricted to the individual alone but spreads to all the family members and caregivers as well.
To reduce the distress and conflicts arising from mental health issues, a structured form of psychotherapy is used to help members of a family adjust to an immediate family member struggling with a medical issue.
This form of treatment, which helps family members to better understand and support each other and work past a crisis situation is known as family therapy.
Family therapy vs couples therapy: a comparison
Family therapy and couples therapy are similar in the sense that they both involve multiple patients working with a therapist, but what makes them different are the people involved in the two types of treatment.
While family therapy involves the members of a family unit, be it a child, a parent, both parents or everyone in the family, couples therapy is just between the two persons who make up the couple.
Moreover, couples therapy is usually for individuals involved in some kind of romantic relationship, while family therapy is for relationships between members of an entire family unit.
Couples therapy is focused on strengthening the romantic part of the relationship, while family therapy is more centred on strengthening the family as a whole. While addressing broader family dynamics, it’s also crucial for couples in specific regions, like those seeking marriage counseling in Singapore, to focus on their unique relationship challenges within the family context.
Issues family therapy can help resolve
Family therapy is best for resolving issues within the family or assisting any other individual within the family unit to understand each other better. It can also be beneficial for those individuals who wish to know more about their family dynamics and how they have affected their lives.
Family therapy can be useful for any family situation arising out of grief, stress, disability, anger, conflict and more. It goes much further than providing short-term relief from family issues; it also addresses the core behaviours and thoughts that are impacting the family negatively.
Family therapy sessions usually include:
- discovering how family members interact with each other
- marshalling the strengths and resources of the family members
- Equipping the family with better problem-solving skills.
Family life can be both a place of security and refuge but also a source of disappointment and pain.
The six most common problems seen in family therapy sessions
Families absorb day-to-day pressure and strain from the outside world, which can spill over and hinder the progress of the entire family unit. The six most common family issues are:
1. Arguments and fights
Since everyone is entitled to their own opinion, disagreements are bound to occur. However, when good communication falters and these disagreements turn into loud arguments, a solution needs to be found. It takes a lot of work to create healthy communication.
It is critical to handle the situation with care and not allow the heightened emotions to get the better of you. Distressing family dynamics are likely to extend to others living in the same household. These repeated conflicts require the cooperation of everyone in the family or a trained therapist to strengthen family ties and interactions.
2. Mental health disability
If a member of the family is battling mental health or developmental disability, the entire family may feel the burden of this emotional issue. Some members may not fully realize the psychological aspect and feel angry if the affected person is being treated partially.
At the same time, the affected member may feel unaccepted. In such a case, a psychologist or family therapist may help identify the core issues and support every member in overcoming their concerns.
3. Substance addiction
The impact of addiction to a substance like drugs or alcohol on a family member should not be underestimated. Children in the family may unknowingly adopt poor coping strategies if they constantly observe a member of the family inebriated or high.
Families forced to face an addiction are tasked to make critical decisions to create a peaceful environment. Such families are advised to seek expert coaching to take action against the addicted individual with love and patience. Seeking help from a therapist can also break down the deeper problems that cause substance abuse and help the member on the road to recovery.
4. Communication issues
Communication is a crucial tool for the proper functioning of the whole family. Parents should be able not only to communicate well between themselves but with parents and kids as well, as various issues may crop up from time to time to hamper the communication process.
In fact, the majority of the problems stem from poor communication. Therapy can help in solving communication issues and provide helpful hints for parents to reach out to their teens or spouses to talk with each other.
5. Keeping secrets from each other
When family members keep secrets from each other, then trust is lost, and relationships may break. Moreover, secrets break bonds between family members, and it is crucial to get professional help to work on the issues together.
A reputed therapist will only be able to restore the balance between truth and honesty in any family relationship. Therapists may be able to see through the lies and dishonesty of a member and modify behaviours to promote the required changes.
6. Forming alliances
Family therapists have often come across family members creating partnerships with one another against another member of the family. These power struggles lead to the loss of love and support.
The main aim of the counsellor here will be to allow the member to recognise this inordinate behaviour that can impact the rest of the family. A therapist will help to resolve these conflicts with established rules and expectations, especially in such blended family situations.
Parting suggestion
There is a wide range of professional online therapists available on the various virtual therapy platforms offering family therapy. The psychologists and counsellors there are all experienced and trained in family conflict and can provide the treatment you need in the comfort of your own home, usually for half the price or less of what a face-to-face session would cost.
