When is it necessary to go to family therapy?

Human social relationships are complex, even with family members themselves. Family therapy is a modality of psychotherapeutic approach that seeks to improve the shortcomings within this bonding system.

In this article we are going to ask ourselves when it is necessary to go to family therapy. In addition, we will review some of its most elementary principles and in which cases it can be effective.

What is family therapy?

The goal of family therapy is detect the main problems of the system constituted by family members. Therefore, It is a process of therapeutic accompaniment aimed at improving coexistence.

It is common that during a family therapy aspects such as assertive communication, tolerance for frustration, recognition of one's own emotions and those of others. All this in order to improve the adaptation capacities of those who make up the family system.

This type of therapy is carried out by psychologists, accredited therapists and, in some cases, by a clinical social worker. In general, the modality is of short duration, because the main objective is to solve specific problems.

Read: Comprehensive couples therapy: what does it consist of?

What are the benefits of family therapy?

Let's see a list of the main benefits of attending a family therapist. In addition to improving the assertive communication process, there are other important benefits.

1. Does not require the participation of the whole family

Although therapy is focused on improving the family system, does not require all members to attend. Only those people who feel the need to go could go.

The therapist will be able to provide the necessary resources to those who attend therapy so that they can be agents of change in their family system.

2. Improve the communication process

Communication processes are essential for the well-being of family ties. In many cases it happens that expressive deficiencies generate intense conflicts in families. But once communication improves, problems come to fruition.

During the first sessions the therapist should have the role of translator, so that communication between those attending the consultation can be effective. It is about understanding what the true meaning is behind a behavior or phrase and giving the tools to express it.

3. Strengthens family trust

Another aspect that generates conflicts within a family dynamic is mistrust. When events that damage the bond of trust occur, relationships deteriorate dramatically.to intense.

To reinforce security it is necessary to understand that some things cannot be changed and touch accept them as they have happened. Once acceptance occurs, people are relieved.

Eventually, they will be able to re-place their trust in other family members. Of course, this process does not happen in the same way in all cases. In some families, relationships may take longer to restructure.

4. Prevents future conflicts

In psychology there are real and apparent motives. It is common that, when a person or family nucleus attends a consultation, there is an apparent reason.

Then, as the process progresses, the therapist will be able to find the real reasons for the conflicts and prevent them from escalating or bringing new problems.

5. Reduce aggressiveness levels

Aggression is natural in all people; It's about a high level of intensity that focuses on coping with a situation. When we say that someone is aggressive we mean that they have determination; It is not the same as being violent.

In family conflicts it often happens that poorly channeled aggressiveness ends up becoming acts of domestic violence. That is why one of the main goals of the family therapist should be to decrease aggressiveness and channel towards more adaptive forms of conflict resolution.

When should you go to family therapy?

In cases where the family is immersed in situations that affect its natural development and continuously, it will be necessary to go to a professional. It usually happens that people try to seek individualized help first; in that case, the therapist should suggest family therapy.

As we mentioned, not always all members can be included in the process. Ideally, attendees do so voluntarily, with the firm conviction of incorporating therapeutic resources into their daily life.

No family is safe from problems, but when conflicts become recurrent and intense, the functioning of the system begins to fail. In this way, we can establish that you should go to a family therapist when the discomfort becomes long-lasting and intense.

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Characteristics of a healthy family

A healthy family, if that expression can be used, is one that face their conflicts in a functional way without letting the links be permanently affected. In this way, there are a series of qualities that are typical of healthy families:

• Respect for the individual differences of each of the members.
• Care in fair measure, without falling in overprotection orbe careful.
• Arrival of coexistence agreements jointly.
• Standards that are not rigid and can be relaxed when necessary.
• Natural communication without fear of expressing yourself.

What to do if my family does not want to attend therapy?

In the event of a general refusal to attend family therapy, You can attend individually to acquire essential communication resources. Then an attempt will be made to get the other members to join the process on a voluntary basis.

In some cases, the therapist may contact family members to invite them to be part of the sessions. It does not matter if you attend individually; taking the first step is a start to improving conditions.