Family Counselling Services in Fort Langley, BC.

Despite the best intentions of ourselves and our family members, we are often tangled in patterns of invalidation, rejection, frustration and blame. It can feel so messy that we operate in a constant state of fear and a crippling sense of unworthiness. In 2008 I started my counselling career as a family therapist. A combination of individual and joint sessions will take place to allow the space for all voices to be respectfully heard, while helping to identify bigger ‘systems’ patterns that keep you stuck in pain and finger-pointing. I will help to smooth out communication, make room for wants and needs and to heal the old wounds holding you back from having a healthier relationship.

Family therapy can be beneficial if you are struggling with parenting, bullying concerns, or conflict within your family to name a few. Family therapy can also be helpful during or after divorce or seperation as well. At West Coast Counselling, we work to support each member of the family and don't take sides. We work to address whatever concerns you may have and develop a plan to conquer these struggles.

In family therapy I focus on creating secure emotional bonds. I help family members identify and express their emotions, fostering understanding and empathy. By exploring negative interaction patterns and underlying emotions, I guide families to reconnect and strengthen their relationships. My goal is to transform negative cycles into positive, supportive interactions, enhancing emotional connection and resolving conflicts. This approach helps families build a foundation of trust and security, promoting healthier, more resilient relationships.

Humans are social beings, we are wired to live and connect with other humans. The first humans we come into contact with are the families we grow up in. Using attachment theory, I work with clients to help understand where they came from and how this has shaped experiences with themselves, others, and how they see the world. Families are systems and it is important to view them in this way - whether I am working with one individual family member or multiple, I approach this work by continually understanding how one piece of the system affects the others.

I work closely with all family members within an empathetic and confidential environment, to help facilitate more effective communication amongst each individual. My goal in therapy is to ensure that every family member feels valued, respected and listened to, without reservation or fear of judgment. Families and myself will towards what they hope to achieve out of counselling, and I can help provide them with strategies to help them achieve a more cohesive and collaborative family unit.

As family members present themselves for counseling, each person is invited to speak so that the individual issues the family, the dynamics as a whole, and the struggles. There will be a setting of goals around the target problem and steps to take to achieve the goal. Each family member will have a role to play in the achievement of the family's goal.

Family counselling begins with the foundation that each member has inherent worth and requires dignity, respect and healthy relationships to thrive. For more complex parent/child dynamics, PCC offers a unique team approach where the child(ren) and parent(s) each have their own therapist. This provides children (esp older children and young adults) a safe space to feel heard and supported. With the family's permission the counsellors consult and together create a family plan. The results of this approach have been truly outstanding.