You do not need to wait until it is too late or when you are in crisis to seek out support. Counselling is useful to strengthen couple relationships and navigate family dynamics at any point in the relationship. Some reasons to attend Couples or Family Therapy include: communication difficulties or conflict, grief or loss in the family, becoming a new parent/step-parent, struggling as a caregiver, comorbid mental health conditions, exploring a transition or an unconventional relationship, experiencing changes or issues in intimacy, desire, or sexuality. We also offer pre-marital counselling and counselling for family and couple transitions.
When couples begin therapy we often teach strategies such as fair fighting. Avoiding name calling, staying in the here and now (not bringing up the past), reducing the use of harsh language, speaking for one’s own experience (I statements), sticking to one problem at a time, and reducing the volume of their voices can be useful tools. As therapists, we try to get to know the couple’s individual communication styles, support them when working through conflicts of any size, help foster further intimacy, establish appropriate boundaries, navigate grief and loss, and provide a safe space to explore past issues and hurts. Some of the modalities we use include:
- Gottman trained counsellors who can support couples in living their best lives in their relationship through enhancing communication patterns and identifying values that are key to their success as a couple. This is a structured therapy with a lot of evidence for its effectiveness. Check out more about this therapy here.
- Narrative therapy involves allowing each family member to tell their story. Each person may have a different story that they think are most relevant; there may be some shared stories that different family members tell; and there may be similar stories that different family members tell . Each story is meaningful. Sharing these stories and hearing from one another can help clarify values and issues in communication and connection. Check out more about this therapy here.
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) is nested in the science of emotions and attachment. We look at negative processing and interaction patterns that create distress and work towards changing them. Therapists focus on helping clients develop emotional intelligence and awareness, and to learn to share their emotional needs more effectively. These skills help enhance the attachment between family members. Check out more about this therapy here.
- Family counselling can be useful when miscommunication, disagreements, and family conflict is occurring. It is also useful as a preventative strategy in times of transition. Families come in all shapes and sizes; families change and expand as we age. Our family systems approach allow for families of all shapes and sizes to get the support they need in a timely manner. In our work with you we will help encourage families to practice empathy, give listening cues to one another, paraphrase or clarify meaning, avoid interruptions, and be mindful of each others body language. Check out more about family systems therapy here.
If you are looking for couples and family counselling, Island Clinical Counselling has several Registered Clinical Counsellors who provide this service.
Nanaimo:
- Kathryn Atkinson
- Michael McNally
- Lisa Passarelli
- Joy Knudsen
- Catherine Moore
- Bree Stutt
- April Link
- Jami Christie
- Shante Van Horlick
Duncan:
Port Alberni:
For lower cost, but effective, counselling please schedule with one of our clinical interns. We offer 50 or 80 minute sessions for couples and family therapy.