Problems

Systemic Family Therapy

A therapy service for individuals, couples and families

What problems does this therapy help with?

Family therapists are experienced in a wide range of areas, including parenting issues, child and adolescent behaviour, divorce and separation, adult mental health and changes in family life. This type of psychotherapy is particularly helpful in supporting families going through significant life changes, as well as treating specific problems (listed below). I work with problems that present themselves in children, young people or adults; indeed, family therapists may work with problems that have been present across several generations.

A 2009 academic research review in the Journal of Family Therapy listed the circumstances in which family therapy had proved to be effective for children, adolescents and the important people in their lives:

Problems in infancy: sleep, feeding and attachment
Child abuse and neglect
Child and adolescent problems such as behavioural difficulties, attention deficit and over-activity (ADHD), and conduct difficulties
Emotional problems including anxiety, depression, grief, bipolar disorder and suicidal thoughts
Body-related problems including enuresis, encopresis, recurrent abdominal pain, and poorly-controlled asthma and diabetes
Drug abuse
Eating disorders including anorexia, bulimia and obesity. (see Nice guidelines 2004)

Research also indicates the effectiveness of family therapy for adults and families affected by:

Relationship difficulties
Psycho-sexual problems
Domestic violence
Mood disorders: anxiety and depression
Alcohol or drug abuse
Schizophrenia
Adjustment to chronic physical illness

In some circumstances family therapy is more effective than individual therapy:

For coping with transitions such as marital breakdown
For children under 16 with eating disorders or behavioural problems
NICE guidelines (2004) recommend family therapy for anorexia, bulimia and obesity in the over-8s.

When indicated, I can bring in additional professional help to support the process. If appropriate, and with your agreement, it is sometimes helpful to consult with fellow professionals in the field, such as psychiatrists, child and adolescent psychotherapists, or art therapists.