Each family dynamic is different, but it is safe to say that most families are at their best in moments of joy, when everyone is healthy and stable.
However, most families experience rough patches, and those moments can chip away at the family’s dynamic. If left untreated, the rough patches can create lifelong repercussions.
A family is its own social system with a structure, pattern, and its own kind of communication. When one member of the social system is threatened, the whole family feels it.
There are many different problems that can disrupt a family’s social system. Here are a few examples:
- Health problems (cancer, illness, and death) that affect the immediate family or friends
- Alcohol or substance abuse
- A divorce
- The remarriage of a child’s parent
- Behavioral issues in a child
- Financial struggles
- Depression or mental illness
- Stress involved with work (whether it be a new job or unemployment)
- Stress in general
It might also be a mixture of these things. Deciding whether or not to seek out therapy for your family or marriage can be a difficult decision, so here’s a list of questions to ask when trying to decide.
Is a family member:
- having extreme emotional reactions that seem excessive?
- withdrawing from family life?
- having issues coping with a divorce, illness, or change in the family?
- having violent episodes (either hurting themselves or others)?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it would be beneficial for you to see a therapist in order to get your family to a better place.
The reason for family therapy is to enhance your family and its ability to support each other. A therapist can help a family deal with a current problem, while also giving them resources to deal with problems in the future more effectively. A supportive family is vital in order to work through the many stages that a family goes through.
If you have decided to take part in family therapy, make sure that each family member, especially your children, do not feel like they are in this alone. Let everyone know that the goal is to work on addressing the problem together, as a family. Even the most stable, put-together families have their issues, and it’s important to reach out for help when you need it.
If you would like to set up an appointment for your family to see Reka, you can reach her at 402-881-8125. You can also email her at reka@omaha-counseling.com, or connect with her via Twitter or Facebook.
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photo credit: Pink Sherbet Photography via photopin cc
