Family counselling is appropriate when moving into a stepfamily. The normal functions of a family of origin change for many reasons. For example, blood ties between members do not exist in stepfamilies. Family relationships develop over time in a biological family where in a stepfamily there are expectations that everyone will get on with each other, this does not always happen. It takes time to develop relationships and learn respect of each new family member.
I work with families together to map out a plan to bring harmony and balance into their lives. We will work together to acknowledge and resolve the unique challenges and dynamics that characterise the stepfamily, focusing and addressing the issues and concerns of those living in or planning to live in a stepfamily.
Moving into a stepfamily situation is a time of great change for all involved. With this change come challenges and behavioural problems impacting on the equilibrium of the family system. During counselling I facilitate structural change by establishing healthy relationship and more appropriate family patterns, rules and boundaries.
Family counselling can help identify and disperse unhealthy triangles and relationship dynamics. Disagreements often become fights, often repetitive ones, and the behaviours of one or more family members impacts in such a negative way that the family system is no longer in balance.
There are many separate parts in any families, even more in a stepfamily. It’s not just Mum, Dad and the kids; it’s the extended people involved and the new participants coming together in two households. This can become overwhelming and very disruptive.
Family counselling is a different approach than individual, couple or child counselling, in that we work on the system, the dynamics of this system and how they interrelate as a whole. Working through these various relationships to enable all involved in the creation of a functioning, cooperative group is what we do in family counselling.
