There is no perfect family. There is no ideal family. Conflicts are an unavoidable part of human life and even families aren’t excluded. At one point or another, every family will go through some sort of problems or difficulties. However, it’s the way these problems are handled that will determine whether the entire family comes out stronger or falls apart.
While different problems require different approaches, family therapy or counseling is a great way for families to deal with problems or conflicts. The aim of family therapy is to improve interaction or communication among family members which is the first step in resolving any problem. While it’s preferred that all family members are present, this isn’t always feasible and the counseling can take place with only available or willing members.
Family therapy is especially needed when there is a tragic loss or incarceration of a family member, divorce, parental conflict, or when a family member is having problems with school or struggling with drug abuse, and so on. Seeking the help of a certified and professional family therapist has many life-changing benefits, some of which will be discussed below.
1. Improves communication among family members
A family is made up of unique individuals with different personalities and this may make it difficult for family members to open up to each other. Sometimes, family members may really want to open up or talk to each other but don’t know where to start or how to go about it. And without proper communication, the family becomes prone to problems, no matter how insignificant or small some may seem, at first.
Family therapy will help families understand each other like never before and teach them how to communicate with each other. A professional counselor will help kickstart the conversation and members can then contribute and talk about how they feel. In the end, every family member will see each other in a new light and learn about the importance of communication.
2. Strengthens bonds
Family dynamics may change over time. The factors that shaped certain interactions and created old bonds may no longer be in play and this might weaken bonds and deteriorate relationships between family members. Family therapy will help families understand each other better, realize how important each family member is, and strengthen bonds.
Therapy can also identify broken connections in the family. For example, siblings that are starting to or are already jealous of each other. It could also be that the parents don’t understand their kids or see things from their perspective. These are issues that family therapy can fix and lasting and meaningful bonds can be formed due to better understanding within the family.
3. Teaches how to resolve conflicts
Many families opt for therapy because attempts to resolve conflicts in-house have been unsuccessful. A professional therapist will become invaluable in this situation as he/she can guide the family and equip them with the tools to resolve the conflict. Also, the new perspective of the therapist means the family can rely on the professional to be unbiased.
When the conflict is eventually resolved, every family member would have learned an unforgettable and invaluable lesson about resolving conflicts. This will without a doubt reflect in the relationships family members have with people outside the family and such relationships are more likely to be healthy and positive.
4. Improved mental and physical health
Conflicts within the family can have negative effects on the mental and physical health of the members. But when family members understand each other better, learn the value of resolving conflicts from therapy, and work actively to resolve conflicts, peace will reign in the family. A peaceful family means members find themselves in an improved state, physically and mentally.
If any conflict arises in the future, members will be more willing to help each other for the collective and individual good.
5. Building a successful family and marriage
It takes work and effort to build a successful family and marriage. Some problems such as divorces and breakups could be fixed if therapy was signed up for. A successful family or marriage isn’t one without issues, since issues are inevitable, but one that knows how to deal with it. And it’s not a bad thing if none of the family members have no clue how to address the problem. The real problem is if the family doesn’t seek help.
Family therapists are professionals with extensive training and experience that can help build successful marriages and families through their guidance.
Article Submitted By Community Writer
