What is Systemic - Family Therapy?

Family and systemic psychotherapy can help those in close relationships to better understand and support each other. It enables family members to express and explore difficult thoughts and emotions safely, understand each other's experiences and views, appreciate each other's needs, build on family strengths, and work together to make useful changes in their relationships and their lives.

We apply systemic theory in individual, family, couples and group settings.

Because our family matters...
but family life isn't always easy.

Family therapy can help families at all stages of life when they're feeling overwhelmed sad and angry; when they are not sure what to do for the best; or when they feel stuck in repeating patterns of hurtful or harmful behaviour.

What does "family" mean?

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"Family" is used to describe any group of people who care about each other and call themselves a family. As well as parents and children of all ages, they may also involve grandparents, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunts, carers, and other professionals. They try to include whoever is important to the family.

We respect the importance of each person's beliefs, culture and life experiences.

Working together can help create closer and stronger relationships and to make meaningful changes.

When is family therapy helpful?

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• Families and couples who want to build closer and happier relationships to overcome conflicts and tensions between themselves.
• Families facing special challenges like alcoholism, mental illness, physical illness, bereavement, ageing, etc.
• A person in your family is having difficulties but refuses the offer of help.
• There are big changes in the family, and you need help to adjust.
• Communication in the family is difficult.
• You are entering a blended family and you want to figure out the logistics.
• You are an adoptive/foster family and want support in dealing with your child's emotional needs.

Adults

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Family therapy can help improve your relationships with significant others, help you communicate your needs safely, understand those close to you and find new ways of addressing concerns together.

Children

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We support international families and children. Family Therapy can help children who struggle with anxiety, low mood, isolation, school refusal, bullying, trauma, loss, health issues, transitions, relationships etc. Parents and children are seen together or in separate sessions, with joint sessions as needed. This helps the child to find ways of overcoming their struggles, but it also helps the parents to support their child through this difficult time.

Parents

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We support parents in finding ways to support their children and maintain warm and loving relationships. This is about being the parent you want to be while addressing the challenges of family life.

Why is my child violent/controlling/engaging in self destructive acts?

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For such kind of challenges, we use an approach called Non-Violent Resistance (NVR). This works by helping parents to develop a caring yet effective response to aggressive, controlling, self-destructive or other unsafe behaviours. Non-Violent Resistance work takes place with the parents without the child present.

Because we love our partner...

Couples therapy helps those who are experiencing difficulties to find better ways to communicate, understand each other and to jointly find solutions. This type of therapy can help to strengthen relationships. When you have a strong relationship, it's easier to deal with problems and challenges that arise in your future. You will be able to communicate better and make more informed decisions about how you want things to go.

What kind of difficulties can couples therapy help us with?

• Communication difficulties between you and your partner.
• Frequent tension and conflict.
• Drifting apart.
• Adjusting to changes in your lives that affect your relationship.
• Disagreements about important decisions.
• Repairing your relationship after an affair.
• You or your partner are experiencing health/mental health difficulties and you want to find ways of helping and coping as a unit.
• Intimacy or sexual issues within the relationship.
• Separating and wanting to make this easier for those involved (e.g. your children).
• Relationships with extended family or other important people that impact negatively on your relationship.

Because we love ourselves...

Individual systemic therapy can help individuals process relationship difficulties and strengthen their relationships. Through systemic therapy you can deepen your understanding of yourself in relation to others and find new ways of expressing your thoughts, feelings and needs so they can be better understood by those who are important to you.

Systemic therapy can also help you understand the experiences and needs of others and to find ways of working through relationship difficulties, even if the other person does not attend therapy.

What kind of difficulties can individual systemic therapy help with?

• You are experiencing difficulties in one or more key relationships.
• Your physical or mental health is affected by current difficulties in a significant relationship.
• Your physical or mental health is affected by past difficulties in a significant relationship.
• You are going through a tough period and this is impacting on your relationships.
• Someone you care about is struggling with an issue and you want to know how to help.
• You are experiencing challenges in your role as a parent.
• You are experiencing challenges in your work environment.
• There are changes in your life that are difficult to adjust to.

What is Non Violent Resistance (NVR)?

Non-Violent Resistance is a systemic approach to help parents deal with their children's aggressive, or self-destructive behaviours. It was developed by Dr. Haim Omer, and it is widely used in NHS - Children & Adolescents Mental Health Services supporting parents and/or caregivers.

NVR helps parents and carers address aggressive, controlling or self-destructive behaviours whilst also strengthening their relationship with their child. It can also help parents of young adults who are still dependent on their parents. It focuses on increasing parental influence through de-escalation and support from the wider system around the child or young person (e.g. extended family, school).

NVR focuses on the needs of the parents ; it supports them in building stronger and safer relationships with their child. Parents say that NVR helps them to rebuild their relationships with their children and to feel stronger in dealing with problems.

NVR therapy takes places with parents or caregivers, alone. This is particularly helpful when the young person is refusing therapy.

Group therapy

We sometimes work in teams, because it's useful to share lots of ideas for families to think about together; either working on my own or with a co-therapist, we help families and individuals to talk about their hopes, and to work towards their own goals as a family.
Sometimes it only takes a few sessions to help a family find their way. Sometimes difficulties are more complicated, and families may need longer to find the solutions that work best for them.