Family therapy, or family counselling, is a form of psychotherapy that helps families improve communication, resolve conflicts, and strengthen relationships by addressing underlying dynamics and patterns. Research shows that family therapy can be highly effective, with studies indicating that about 75% of families who engage in it, report significant improvements in family functioning and individual well-being.
Improve communication, rebuild trust, and create healthier relationships.
Learn tools to navigate disagreements and reduce tension in a supportive environment.
Get professional guidance to manage stress, transitions, and mental health concerns together.
Family therapy or family counselling is a collaborative process where a trained therapist helps family members improve communication, resolve conflicts, and build stronger relationships.
1. Assessment & Goal Setting: The therapist gathers information about family dynamics, identifies concerns, and sets goals for therapy.
2.Guided Discussions: Sessions provide a safe space to express thoughts and feelings, improving understanding and empathy among family members.
3. Skill-Building and Problem-Solving: Families learn practical tools to manage conflict, set healthy boundaries, and support one another.
4. Progress Review & Closure: Therapy concludes when goals are met, with a focus on maintaining positive changes long-term.
We carefully hand-select and train our therapists to provide the highest level of evidence-based care for our clients.
Your wellbeing is our primary objective, so our goal is to help you reach your goal(s) as soon as possible.
We won’t keep you in treatment any longer than necessary.
* Studies show standard EMDR to produce clinically significant results in 1/4 of the time compared to standard treatment options. 50+ cases produced clinically significant results in as little as 3 days with our Total Immersion EMDR process, indicating this model produces clinically significant results in 1/24 the time as traditional therapy. Studies support our findings by indicating complicated clinical issues can be resolved with an intensive format when combined with high and low intensity physical activity (Bongaerts, et. al., 2017; Mendez, et. al, 2018).
You might consider family counseling when conflicts, communication breakdowns, or emotional distress start affecting your family’s overall well-being. Here are some key signs that indicate your family could benefit from professional support:
1. Persistent Conflict & Tension
2. Communication Breakdown
3. Emotional Distance or Withdrawal
4. Major Life Changes & Stress
5. Behavioral Issues in Children or Teens
6. Mental Health Concerns
7. Parenting Struggles
If any of these signs resonate with your family, seeking counseling can provide a safe space to improve communication, rebuild trust, and create healthier relationships.
Choosing the right family therapist is important to ensure a comfortable and effective counseling experience. Here are some key factors to consider:
1. Qualifications & Experience
Look for a licensed professional (e.g., Registered Clinical Counsellor, Psychologist, or Marriage & Family Therapist).
Find someone with experience in family therapy and specific issues your family is facing (e.g., parenting struggles, conflict resolution, blended families).
2. Approach & Techniques
Therapists use different approaches, such as Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), or Family Systems Therapy.
Ask about their approach and how it aligns with your family’s needs.
3. Specialization
If a family member is struggling with a specific issue (e.g., a child with anxiety, a teen with behavioral concerns, or a parent with depression), look for a therapist who specializes in that area.
4. Compatibility & Comfort
Your family should feel comfortable, heard, and understood by the therapist.
Many therapists offer a consultation—use this time to see if their style feels like a good fit.
5. Availability & Accessibility
Check if they offer in-person, online, or hybrid sessions.
Consider their location, scheduling flexibility, and session costs (including insurance coverage).
6. Cultural & Personal Fit
If cultural background, religious beliefs, or personal values are important, find a therapist who understands and respects them.
7. Reviews & Recommendations
Ask for referrals from trusted friends, doctors, or school counselors. Read reviews or testimonials to gauge client experiences.
Most of our sessions are virtual aside from VIP EMDR Retreats (some of our Associates may elect to offer the occasional in-person session, so it’s important to check with them).
While offering virtual sessions nearly exclusively may seem unorthodox, during the COVID-19 pandemic lock-down, Robert discovered virtual sessions were superior in many ways to in-person sessions.
Some reasons for this are: allowing clients to meet in the comfort of their home or office, allowed clients to reach a new level of authenticity by not needing to get “dressed up for the world;” and not needing to account for travel time was greatly appreciated by most of our clients who have busy schedules. Furthermore, virtual sessions require the therapist to attune much more deeply to their client, and having a therapist who is even more deeply attuned to their client, can only benefit treatment.
However, with that said we will check-in to ensure sessions are working for your child.
1. First Session: Getting to Know Your Family
2. Open Discussions & Communication Exercises
3. Conflict Resolution & Problem-Solving
4. Strengthening Emotional Bonds
5. Individual & Group Work
6. Practical Strategies & Homework
7. Progress & Closure
You’ll know family therapy is working for you when you start to notice positive changes in your relationships and dynamics. Here are some signs that family therapy is having a positive impact:
1. Improved Communication
2. Strengthened Emotional Connections
3. Increased Cooperation & Problem-Solving
4. Personal Growth & Accountability
5. Positive Impact Outside of Therapy
6. Gradual Progress
7. Feeling More Hopeful & Motivated
If you’re not sure if therapy is working, it’s always a good idea to talk directly with your therapist. They can help you track progress, reassess goals, or adjust strategies if necessary.
While family therapy can be incredibly beneficial, it’s possible for it to feel difficult or even seem to make things worse in the short term, especially if there are unresolved issues or emotions that need to be addressed. Here are some situations where family therapy might feel challenging or have temporary setbacks:
1. Emotional Intensity
2. Resistance to Change
3. Miscommunication or Misunderstanding
4. Feeling Overwhelmed
5. Unrealistic Expectations
What to Do If It Feels Worse:
If you notice that the therapy feels more harmful than helpful, it may also be worth considering whether the therapist is the right fit for your family’s needs. A good therapist will help guide you through challenges and create a safe space for everyone.
Yes, family therapy can still be very effective if a family member is on medication, using drugs, or abusing alcohol, but there are some important considerations to ensure that the process is helpful and safe for everyone involved.
1. Addressing Substance Use or Addiction in Therapy
2. Medication Considerations
3. Potential Challenges
4. Safety & Boundaries
5. Support for the Family
When Family Therapy Might Not Be Suitable
In these cases, individual therapy, treatment programs, or interventions might be necessary to help the individual before family therapy can be truly effective.
It’s really common for some family members to resist or feel reluctant about family counseling, especially if they’re unsure about what it involves or if they’re hesitant to face difficult emotions. While I can’t directly convince them, I can offer some strategies you can use to help motivate them and approach the conversation in a way that feels less intimidating:
1. Normalize the Experience of Therapy
2. Focus on the Benefits, Not the Problems
3. Frame It as a Family Decision, Not One Person’s Need
4. Start with a Small Commitment
5. Approach with Compassion and Patience
6. Provide Information
7. Consider Individual Therapy First
8. Lead by Example
Most likely. It’s important to check with your insurance carrier to determine if they cover “Registered Clinical Counselling,” “Clinical Counselling,” “Counselling,” “Mental Health Counselling,” “Psychotherapy,” “Psychological Services.”
We have conveniently included most insurance carriers where our services are accepted (although others who have not been included may still provide reimbursement).
If you determine your carrier will accept our services in full or in part, you are required to pay in full for our services, and then seek reimbursement from your insurance carrier.
It’s important to learn which designation your insurance carrier covers prior to your consultation and then discuss this matter prior to commencing services.
It’s confusing isn’t it? Let’s bring some clarity here.
Psychiatrists are medical doctors (MD’s) with a focus on mental health. They can formally diagnose and prescribe medications.
Psychologists are “doctors of psychology” but are not medical doctors. They have a PhD. They are allowed to diagnose mental health conditions, conduct psychological assessments, but cannot prescribe medications.
Psychotherapists and Clinical Counsellors are interchangeable designations where each province will have certain protected rights to use a particular designation. For example, in British Columbia, we are called either Registered Clinical Counsellors or Certified Clinical Counsellors; in Ontario the term used is Registered Psychotherapist. Counsellors/Psychotherapists (whichever term is used) generally have a MA level degree, are able to conduct psychological /counselling services but are not able to formally diagnose, assess, or prescribe medication.
Social Workers are able to conduct counselling sessions and are governed by the College of Social Workers. They may also belong to other professional associations and conduct therapy/counselling/psychotherapy within those guidelines.
Social workers most often have a MA level degree, and like Clinical Counsellors/Psychotherapists, cannot formally diagnose, assess, or prescribe medication.
Hope that helps!
Dive deeper into EMDR and learn why You NEED Therapy! Hint: Robert believes we all need therapy ;)
Inside you’ll discover: