Family Counselling Services in Halifax, NS.

My family therapy approach involves seeing the whole family initially to understand each person's unique perspective, provide safety for each person to express themselves and to give each person the opportunity to determine their comfort level with me as therapist. I will then work with parts of the family (eg, siblings, parents, dyads such as Mother/Child, Father/Child, Sib/Sib) to support recognition of the unique cycle each group/dyad experiences as problematic in having the closeness and safety they desire within the family. I use Emotion Focused Family Therapy which is based on attachment research and which acknowledges our need to be known and loved by family members.

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.

Families can be difficult environments at times. We will explore family issues that are impacting the group. The family is the "client" yet each member is valued in the therapy. We can work in identifying familial roles and patterns that are negatively impacting the family unit. Through psychoeducation, validation and improved communication and listening skills we can move the family unit into a healthier spot.

Some of the most difficult relationships to navigate are found under your own roof. Whether you need help with parenting strategies, improving communication, creating and maintaining healthy relationship boundaries, or you're not even sure what the problem is, I can help bring peace and happiness back into your home. I use a combination of structural family therapy and Gottman method techniques to improve communication and strengthen the fabric of the family system.

When more people are involved in the therapy it often is more successful. That's family therapy in a nut shell. I often see people alone but when I can see a couple, or multiple members of the same family - change happens much more rapidly and more gets done in less time. Whether you are the identified patient - the one with "the problem(s)"- or you are a family member brought in to consult on "the problem(s)"- your participation is very helpful. That doesn't mean that we always get everyone together in the same room at the same time (although that is likely to happen at some point). Often there are individual sessions and couples or parent-child group sessions that support the process.