The COVID-19 pandemic globally affected the population with economic difficulty, illness, stress, and isolation. These factors have had a profound effect on the mental health of millions.
Studies show that since the start of the pandemic, many people have experienced deterioration of their mental health. Depression and anxiety surged 11% from the previous year. With many people forced to lockdown in their homes, it is easy to see why families grew tense and weary.Â
If your family has been affected, family counseling could help resolve these issues and strengthen your familial connection.
Keep reading to learn why family therapy is important and how it could help your family.
What Is Family Therapy?
Family counseling or therapy brings together members of the family to discuss certain issues that pertain to the family as a whole. There might be deep-seated issues within the family that are causing strife, or the actions of one family member that are affecting everyone.Â
Each family dynamic is unique and will have its own set of problems. While family issues can vary from mild to severe, getting help as a family can be beneficial for each of the members.
Here are some ways in which a family therapist can help:
- Create a safe space for everyone to share their thoughts
- Help organize your thoughts and express them in a meaningful way
- Identify negative behavior patterns that lead to conflict
- Create effective ways for the family to problem solve
- Examine family roles and expectations
- Highlight the family strengths and work on the weaknesses
- Improve overall communication
- Set and maintain healthy boundaries
- Learn effective stress-relieving techniques
These are just some of how family therapy is beneficial. This type of therapy is a great addition on top of individual therapy. San Diego rehab centers offer individual and family therapy to help you recover from familial issues.
What Can You Expect From Family Counseling?
Family therapy will look different for every individual family unit. Your family can arrange an in-person session or use a video platform to get everyone on the same call. Here are some of the common issues that family therapy can help with.
Resolving Emotional Issues
Isolation and lockdown have been responsible for a rise in overall stress. These can contribute to family conflict.
Additionally, there can be underlying emotional issues that are unresolved that have made their way to the surface during covid. These types of issues can fester and create tension and resentment that add to the conflict.
Family counseling in San Diego can help you and your family get to the bottom of these issues and create techniques to communicate.
Sharing the Home Space for Work and School
With lockdowns worldwide due to the pandemic, families had to coexist in the same space while maintaining their obligations.
Many parents began to work from home and children took their classes online. This creates an environment that can be tense for the whole family. Children do not get the socialization they need, while parents don’t get time out of the house in their professional setting.
For some, this is still the case. A family therapist can help you develop healthy routines for sharing the same space. They can also offer advice on how to take time for yourself when you need it.
Improving Relationships Between Family Members
Within the family structure, there are many different relationships. These relationships change with time and circumstances and many experienced these challenges during the pandemic.
The nature of the lockdown challenged relationships because of the difference of opinions and what is considered best practice. It is important to remember that this is a difficult time for everyone and it is common to have relationship difficulties.
Family therapy can help you and your family members understand each other better. The best family counselor in San Diego can strengthen your bond with each of your family members and equip you with the tools you need to stay bonded.
Addressing Addiction Issues
Addiction is a condition that affects the entire family.
It can cause changes in behavior, familial neglect, distorted family relationships, financial issues, and strained relationships. When one person in the family is addicted, the entire family suffers. This can lead to long-lasting conflict that is difficult to resolve.
In family counseling, the addicted individual must undergo individual detox, treatment, and counseling, as well as family counseling. This can help the family understand the addiction and how to cope with its effects.
If you’re looking for San Diego alcohol rehabilitation, Apex Recovery can help you and your family deal with addiction.
Examining Intergenerational Family Issues
Intergenerational issues are common within the family unit. These are traumas that occurred to your parents, grandparents, and so on. These can be things like war, immigration, addiction, disease, and poverty.
The effects of these traumas can be felt down many generations. They can also affect parenting and cause conflicts between family members.
Effective family counseling can help address these issues and how they have an impact on your family. Rehab centers in San Diego offer therapy that includes comprehensive intergenerational family therapy.
Investing in Family Counseling for a Stronger Family Unit
Family counseling is an effective way to help resolve a variety of issues. The pandemic has brought many family issues to the surface and created an unusual environment for all families. Family therapy can help you improve communication, resolve emotional issues, share the home space, improve relationships, deal with addiction, and resolve intergenerational trauma.
Be sure to visit our website and contact us for alcohol treatment centers in San Diego. Start your family on the path to healing with family counseling.