Families can be a source of love, belonging and support, but they can also be where stress, conflict and worry are felt most keenly. When relationships at home become difficult, it can affect everyone in the family.
Family therapy offers a calm, neutral space for family members to look at what is happening between them. Rather than focusing on one person as the problem, it considers the relationships, patterns and pressures affecting the family as a whole.
When family therapy may help
- Communication has become difficult, tense or repetitive
- Parents and children or teenagers are struggling to understand one another
- A major change, such as separation, bereavement, illness, moving home or a new family arrangement, is affecting family life
- Blended-family dynamics, step-parenting or loyalty conflicts feel hard to navigate
- A family member’s emotional wellbeing is having an impact on everyone
- There is conflict, distance or a relationship that feels stuck
- You are noticing patterns across generations and would like to understand them differently
How family therapy works
Family therapy is offered by more than one therapist in our team. The first session is an opportunity to understand what has brought your family to therapy and to discuss who it would be helpful for to attend. We will talk with you about the therapist and arrangement most likely to be helpful, because every family is different and the right approach depends on the people involved and the dynamics at home.
Sessions can be 60 or 90 minutes. The most suitable length is agreed after the initial discussion, taking account of the size of the family and what would be most helpful. Not every family member needs to attend every session, and the focus can change as the work develops.
What family therapy can offer
Therapy can help family members speak and listen in ways that are often difficult to achieve at home. It can create more understanding of each person’s experience, make recurring patterns clearer, and support families to find more constructive ways of responding to one another. It is not about taking sides or assigning blame. It is about making room for every voice and working towards changes that feel possible for the family.
We also offer children’s therapy, therapy for teenagers, couples and relationship therapy, and bereavement support.
Ask about family therapy
Tell us a little about your family and what support you are looking for. We will then discuss the most helpful next step with you.
Talk to us about your family
We can talk through what is happening and help you decide whether family therapy could be a good fit for your family.