Family Therapy: It is Never Too Late

Article | Family

Family therapy is a type of psychological counseling that assists families in enhancing their communication, resolving their issues, and fostering their connections. It can be beneficial for any family that wants to overcome difficulties or improve their relationships. However, it is particularly useful for those couples who are ready to modify themselves and their interactions if they are unhappy with their current situation.

Many people turn to family therapy when they are close to breaking up or divorcing, hoping to preserve their marriage or partnership. This is reasonable, but it is not the best situation. Family therapy can be more successful if the couples seek help sooner before their problems become too serious or deep-rooted. This does not imply that family therapy is futile for those who seek help later. It just implies that it will take more time and effort to achieve positive results.

And, not everyone is ready to go deep. Some people may have been hurt or offended in the past, and they have learned to protect themselves. They may see the therapist as a stranger who cannot be trusted. Therefore, family therapists recommends that they come at least one more time to experience and appreciate the changes. Sometimes, real transformation starts after 5 or 7 sessions. The same thing applies to couples. They may have one issue on the surface, but when they dig deeper, they realize that they need more than a compromise. They need support, honesty, and emotional expression. They may discover that it is not their partner who does not understand them, but they themselves who do not know what they want from their partner. And even if they know what they want, their partner may not be able to give it to them, due to their own limitations or reasons. And then they have to look for other ways and options.

What I like most about family therapy is that the couples come closer to each other. The fact that they come to the therapist shows that they want to stay together and solve their problems. Breaking up is the easy way out. But trying to find a solution, changing oneself, and noticing the partner’s changes is the mature way. Otherwise, they can keep floating on the surface without diving into the depths.

Author: Emma Tsaruk

02 February 2024

What are the benefits of a free consultation?

Getting to know the psychologist: You can talk to the psychologist to see if they are a good fit for you in terms of their work style, personality, and specialization.

Defining the problem: You can describe your problem in detail and get qualified advice from the psychologist, which will help you better understand the nature of your problem.

Developing a plan of action: You can get recommendations on how to solve your problem, which methods and approaches may be the most effective.

Feeling supported: You can get emotional support and feel that you are not alone, because the psychologist will listen to you attentively.

Who is a free consultation suitable for?

Those looking for a psychologist: A free consultation can help you make the right choice, as you can talk to several psychologists before making a final decision.

Those who are unsure whether they need psychotherapy: A free consultation can help you understand whether psychotherapy can help you solve your problem and whether it is right for you.

Those who have a limited budget: A free consultation is an opportunity to get qualified help from a psychologist for free, to see if you need further psychotherapy.

Those who may be nervous or hesitant to start psychotherapy: A free consultation gives you the opportunity to overcome your fear of the first meeting with a psychologist, get answers to your questions, and feel more confident.

Important:

A free consultation is not a substitute for psychotherapy.

In a free consultation, the psychologist cannot give you a final diagnosis or prescribe treatment.

The purpose of a free consultation is to help you determine if a psychologist and psychotherapy are right for you, and to give you the first steps to solving your problem.

Potential benefits of a free initial consultation

During this first session: potential clients have the chance to learn more about you and your approach before agreeing to work together.

Offering a free consultation will help you build trust with the client. It shows them that you want to give them a chance to make sure you are the right person to help them before they move forward. Additionally, you should also be confident that you can support your clients and that the client has problems that you can help them cope with. Also, you can avoid any ethical difficult situations about charging a client for a session in which you choose not to proceed based on fit.

We've found that people are more likely to proceed with therapy after a free consultation, as it lowers the barrier to starting the process. Many people starting therapy are apprehensive about the unknown, even if they've had sessions before. Our culture associates a "risk-free" mindset with free offers, helping people feel more comfortable during the initial conversation with a specialist.

It's important to note that the initial consultation differs from a typical therapy session:

It can last from 15 to 30 minutes, with the specialist determining the appropriate length for this introductory meeting.

The free initial consultation is not intended to be a full therapy session. It is an opportunity for the client to learn more about the specialist and their approach to therapy, and to decide whether they want to work together.

The specialist should set clear boundaries for the free initial consultation, including the length of the session and the topics that can be discussed.

The specialist should be prepared to answer questions from the client about their experience, training, and qualifications.

The specialist should not give specific advice or recommendations during the free initial consultation. This should be done during a paid session.