Family Therapy
1. What Is Couple and Family Therapy?
Couple and Family Therapy focuses on solving problems in relationships - between couples, parents and children, siblings, in-laws, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, ex-spouses, friends, co-workers, or business associates. Couple and family therapy usually includes talking with other family members in therapy, and may include performing tasks or homework assigned by the therapist.
2. Do I have to be in a relationship to go to family therapy?
No. Individuals often seek couple and family therapy to work on personality or relationship issues and emotional problems. Often individuals may enter therapy to work on issues which may be preventing them from being in a relationship or to work on issues from a marriage or relationship that has ended.
Couples need not be married to seek or benefit from couple and family therapy. In fact, many people go to premarital therapy to further develop and solidify a relationship which is headed toward marriage. With the busy-ness of dual-earner families today, many couples go to couple therapy for a "tune-up" every couple of years, so they don't fine themselves drifting too far apart. As well, post marital therapy which focuses on issues around separating, children, extended family, friends, and property is a common use of couple therapy.
Anyone who wants to improve their relationship can benefit. Persons who are involved in relationships, whether friendships, alternatives to marriage, a parent and child, siblings, or work relationships also seek therapy to solve problems or strengthen the relationship.
3. What if we're not "sick" or "crazy", but have ordinary problems like everybody else - problems we do not think are serious enough to need therapy?
The idea that only those with a mental illness can benefit from couple and family therapy is a myth. Changes, stress, and problems can be expected in any relationship and therapy can help prevent small problems from becoming serious. Click here for more information.
The professional therapist is trained to strengthen relationships, and thereby prevent problems from arising as well as increase the quality of a relationship and family life and other relationships.
4. What if my partner or other family members won't participate?
Not all family members must always take part in the therapy. Uninterested family members often get involved in the therapy later if there is at least one motivated person in the family. Not all couple and family therapists require all family members to be present for sessions.
5. How does couple and family therapy differ from other forms of therapy?
Couple and family therapy differs from individual or group therapy in that it focuses primarily on solving problems in relationships between people. Couple and family therapists believe that an individual's problems are often a sign of difficulties between people, for example, a person may become depressed within a painful marital situation. Generally, couple and family therapy works to improve relationships between people, and increase understanding of family roles, patterns, rules, goals, and stages of development. In contrast, traditional therapists most often focus on an individual's personal problems, internal feelings, or past development through reflection or insight.
6. What qualifications should I look for in a couple and family therapist?
The basic qualifications for couple and family therapists have been established since 1942 by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), the primary professional organization in the field. The BC Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (BCAMFT) is the provincial representative of the AAMFT. BCAMFT Clinical Members have a minimum of a Master's degree including specific graduate training in marriage and family therapy, and also have completed at least two years of supervised clinical practice with couples and families.
BCAMFT Clinical Members are trained in assessment and treatment and are knowledgeable in such areas as human growth and development, behavioural patterns, couple and family interaction, sexual dysfunction, parent-child relationships, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, alcohol and substance abuse, underachievement, and the dynamics of family systems. They are trained to use a variety of therapeutic methods and processes. BCAMFT Clinical Members observe a strict ethical code and welcome inquires about their training, experience, theoretical orientation, length of treatment, goals of therapy, and fees.