Family counselling is a type of psychotherapy that works with families and couples in intimate relationships to nurture change and development. It may help to promote better relationships and understanding within a family. George and Ukpong (2013) described it as a professionally organized attempt to produce beneficial changes in a disturbed marital or family unit through interactional and dialogue oriented methods. Family counseling tends to view change in terms of the systems of interaction between family members. It emphasizes family relationships as an important factor in psychological health. It may be incident specific, as for example during a divorce, or the approaching death of a family member. Alternatively, it may address the needs of the family when one family member suffers from a mental or physical illness that alters his or her behaviour or habits in negative ways. Counselling for families often occurs with all members of the family unit present. But sometimes, this may not always be the case. A family member who suffers from alcoholism or drug addiction might not attend sessions, and might actually be the reason why other family members are seeking counseling. Depending on the assessment of the family counselor, he may decide to see different sub-systems within the family or the entire family.
77 3.3 How can Family Counselling help?
Family Counselling is used to encourage conversation between members of the family. It can help the whole family to communicate better, and to understand and resolve differences. When families go through change, it can be difficult to learn to adapt. Counselling can help family members to support one another through these difficult times. It enables them to reduce conflict and arguments thereby making them to grow stronger. Couples that are considering separation or divorce, or who are already separated, can find guidance and practical support on what to do next during family counselling. (Alwood, 2007).
One can also get dedicated support through family counseling, if one is parenting troubled teenagers. Family counselling can help one and one‟s family through some of the challenges of this difficult period. It also helps parents realize the extent to which their child has bottled up their feelings. Once the child feels safe, he can speak openly for the first time. Children really appreciate being listened to. They easily pick up on conflict and if they do not have another outlet to let out the steam, it can badly affect them. (Memiah, 2015.
3.4 What to expect in Family Counselling
During counselling, family members meet with a counsellor, who will provide confidential and non-judgmental support, and who will encourage everyone who comes to have their say and to share their feelings, if they wish. At the first appointment, the counsellor will ask the family members to talk through what is happening, and what they would like to change. The counselor observes the interactional patterns of the family and will then work with the family to decide what happens next. (Alwood, 2007)
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Family counseling looks at the family as a whole, not on the individual members. It is a different experience for everyone, and what happens in the sessions will depend very much on what the family hopes to get out of it, and on the unique needs of the family. Family counselling can help families build stronger relationships between every member of the family and help them to work together as a team.
4.0 Conclusion
In the field‟s early years, many clinicians defined the family in a narrow, traditional manner usually including parents and children. As the field has evolved, the concept of the family is more commonly defined in terms of strongly supportive, long-term roles and relationships between people who may or may not be related by blood or marriage. As the family evolves so are the myriads of issues and challenges that accompany it, hence the need for family
counselling.
5.0 Summary
In this unit, we looked at the concept of family, the various types of families and the functions of the family. We also discussed the meaning of and need for family counselling as well as what to expect during family counselling.
6.0 Tutor Marked Assignment
1. Define the concept “Family” and explain the functions of the various types of families.
2. What is family counselling?
79 7.0 References/Further Reading
Achalu, E. I. & Achalu, O. E. (2002) Sex education and family life. Lagos: Simarch Nigerian Limited.
Alwood, J. D. (2007). Family Counselling. (http://www.nymft.com/Family_Counselling.html). George, I. N. and Ukpong, D. E. (2013). Combating the 21st Century Family Challenges in
Nigeria for Social Stability through Family Counselling Services. Journal of Developing Country Studies 3 (4) p. 52-58.
Goode, W. J. (1964). The Family. Columbia. Universty Press.
Klemer, R. H. (1970). Marriage and Family Relationships. Columbia. University Press.
Memia, L. (2015). Counselling for Family Issues- Counselling Directory (http://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/family.html).
Nwoke, G. O. (2004). Marital counseling and couples constitutional rights marriage. Calabar: Glad Tiding Press.
Russon, J. (2003). Human Experience: Philosophy, Neurosis, and the Elements of Everyday Life, Albany: State University of New York Press.
Schneider, D. (1984). A Critique of the Study of Kinship. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.
Zinn,M. B. D. & Eitzen, S. (2002). Diversity in families. Allyn and Bacon. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/family#fathers.27_rights
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