Family Counselling Services in Oshawa, ON.

Families undergo constant change as each member strives to learn, grow and develop individually and in relation to others. Stress and challenges are a normal part of family development and, at times, these can become "too much" to handle alone. When arguments, disagreements, confusion and conflict arise it can be quite helpful to draw upon an experienced family systems specialist. Assessing and prioritizing concerns and developing a game plan for improving communication, relationships and overall functioning is available. Teamwork require good coaches (parents/caregivers) and good coaches benefit from training. Problem-solving, mediation and stress management coaching improves family.

My interest in Family Therapy grew out of my work with patients in acute care hospitals. As I interacted with the patients and their families, I realized that if one family member is in pain, all the family members are somehow affected. This insight caused me to shift my focus away from the more traditional psychodynamic theories I was earlier taught in University and to focus instead on how family therapy and family systems brought healing. This growing body of literature, which started in the 1960s, has revolutionized my thinking, enabling me to find a more generous, holistic, and integrated approach to patient care and family healing. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation today

My background in relational therapy allows me to understand individuals through the relationships they cohabit. Families come in various forms and sizes, and at times, navigating through these relational dynamics and understanding differing perspectives may be difficult. Throughout our time together, we will work to make each member’s voice heard, find ways of communication that feel helpful, and establish and restore connection. Please reach out for a free consultation to see if we are a good fit.

Navigating the complexities of parent-child relationships and the dynamics of being parents or siblings can be challenging, especially during transitions or conflicts. I specialize in online dyadic family therapy work, where I work with parents, parent-child pairs, or sibling dyads to enhance understanding, communication, and harmony within your family unit. Let's embark on a journey to build stronger connections and create a nurturing environment together. Reach out for a free consultation, and let's take the first step towards a happier, more harmonious family life.

Families are diverse and can be difficult to navigate alone. Family counselling may include adjustment to family structure changes, navigation of developmental transitions or a new diagnosis, management of conflict among family members, and general mental health support for family members within the household. This would be accomplished by providing you and your family members a space to constructively discuss issues with the assistance of learned communication tools.

Our relationships with our family are some of the most complex relationships of our lives. Being able to communicate our needs and feelings with our loved ones is crucial to our well-being and is an essential part of a successful parent/child relationship. Over time, families co-create a language and ways of interacting and being. However, as we enter times of stress and change, and our children grow, we start to develop independent languages that cause us to feel unheard, and invalidated. Sessions will allow you to be intentional about sharing with each other and provide a safe place to open up, repair hurts, and relearn each other's language.

We will work together to achieve more harmony & less conflict in your family. We may need to work through helping you & your family members adjust to difficulties or transitions you are going through or have gone through. Each family member's opinions (including children) will be valued. All family members will be validated & each person will be given a voice & time to share their thoughts on what is & isn't working in family life. I have years of experience helping clients with: parent-child conflict; parent disagreements; blended family issues; coping with a sick or mentally ill family member; dealing with trauma and loss; grief. We will work to achieve compromise.

I often find that dealing with mental health and addiction issues is not possible unless we deal with the structural issues of the family. I use a family systems approach where relationships are seen as two-way and reciprocal. It's not about who did what, it's about our relationship skills and ability to manage having a family. It's about being healthy rather than being right. Sometimes you need to make a strong move in order to get the whole family system to shift. Let's figure what to do together as it is often too difficult to handle alone.

Family relationships are complex and are oftentimes impacted by various events, life transitions, and societal shifts. I believe that every family is unique and that your efforts to navigate challenges are valid and purposeful. As a family therapist, my aim is to help you strengthen your relationships with one another and to support you in finding a balance between your individual and family needs. I also help you to identify possible areas of stuckness and conflict as well as strengths and resources, so that together, we can create hoped-for solutions. Contact me or book a free consultation if you wish to learn more.