Compared to other forms of relationships, familial ties may often be taken for granted with the assumption that blood relatives are obligated to be there for each other regardless of circumstance. Yet, a strained relationship within a family can sometimes cause family members to grow distant. Gradually, the relationship may fall apart. Family counselling can be useful as it helps with strengthening bonds, deepening connections, and repairing hurts. Even families who appear to have a strong bond on the surface may find it helpful to seek counselling services. Sometimes, underlying tension builds up because difficult conversations have been avoided, and authentic communication is deprioritised to prevent conflict. While everything may seem “fine” outwardly, unaddressed issues from seemingly small disagreements may build up and escalate into heated arguments in the future. Let’s explore more in this article.
Improvement in Communication
Counselling services provide a safe space for family members to express their thoughts and feelings, and also understand the struggle to open up. This is key to effective communication. This is especially important with youths who may not always be open to communication for a variety of reasons, including a desire for independence, difficulty articulating emotions, or fear of being judged or criticised. Youth counselling as part of the family therapy can help them experience the safety and empathy in the counselling space to begin to be more open about their internal experiences and share them with their parents in family counselling as facilitated by the counsellor. The same struggles of difficulty expressing themselves or fear of further tension may be present with parents. Through guided sessions, all the family members, regardless of age or stage of life, can learn more effective communication skills, and experience a deeper understanding of each other’s perspectives and get along better with each other.
Learning Conflict Resolution Skills
Conflict and differences within families are inevitable because of differing personalities and differing wants and needs. Different viewpoints, ways of managing emotions and responding to differences are all part of family dynamics. When not understood or communicated, this could lead to misunderstanding and tension. Counselling services provide a safe space for conflict resolution. The family experiences the process of negotiating differences to reduce ongoing tension. In the process, family members learn to communicate their concerns without blame, listen actively to each other and find compromises that respect each other’s needs.
Rebuilding Broken Trust
Some may hold the idea that once trust is broken, relationships are unlikely to recover. Trust can be rebuilt, but it takes intentional work and effort. With the help of a qualified counsellor, along with the resolve to work hard, family members can address the root causes that led up to the breakdown of trust and work towards healing and rebuilding the relationship. It can be a very challenging process and involves family members who are open to being vulnerable with each other. While this takes time, patience, trust, and resolve, it also means that the family is given a chance to come together to address very difficult issues, deep hurts or longstanding disagreements with the help of a skilled professional.
Providing Emotional Support
Emotional support is particularly crucial during challenging times, such as loss, illness or major life transitions. At such times, when individuals may feel more vulnerable or overwhelmed. Through counselling, family members acquire the skills of listening empathetically, validating each other’s emotions and offering comfort in difficult moments. Coming together as a family in such times strengthens support for each other. Instead of feeling alone and not understood in such times, families learn how to navigate these changes together as a unit and develop resilience and trust within the family.
Strengthening Family Relationships
Ultimately, the aspects we’ve discussed — improving family communication, developing conflict resolution skills, rebuilding broken trust and learning to provide emotional support to each other — work together to strengthen relationships. Through family counselling, families not only address their current challenges but also develop long-lasting skills, fostering mutual respect and understanding for a stronger and healthier family dynamic.
Finding The Right Help
At In Focus, we’re all about empowering individuals, couples and families to improve lives and well-being. We have a comprehensive range of counselling services and therapy services for children, youth, individuals, couples and families. In Focus’ offers both family counselling and family therapy. In general, family counselling is more focused on addressing the communication and behaviour patterns; whereas family therapy goes further to help the family on more deep-seated and complex issues. As there are overlaps between the two, a qualified and professional counsellor will work with the family seeking help to collaboratively decide the direction of the work that is appropriate, relevant and helpful for the family.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to us to find out more and to begin the steps towards the change you hope to experience in your family life.