Family Counseling

11 min reading time Last Update Date: 04.07.2023
The treatment content titled Family Counseling has been written by Doktorumsun and has been reviewed and approved by Uzm. Kl. Psk. Ömer KURT (Psychology).

What is Family Counseling?

Family counseling is a therapy method that helps family members understand their relationships, improve their communication skills, and solve their problems. Family counseling helps a family unit cope with difficulties and establish a healthier relationship.

Definition of Family Counseling

Family counseling aims to improve communication skills, resolve conflicts and strengthen relationships by addressing the problems experienced by individuals within a family unit. Family counselors try to understand and support each member's emotional needs by holding individual or group sessions with family members.

Aims of Family Counseling

  • Improving communication between family members
  • Solving problems and mitigating conflicts
  • Strengthening family relations
  • To increase the solidarity of the family unit
  • Changing negative patterns and promoting healthy behaviors
  • Understanding and supporting the emotional needs of family members

The Importance of Family Counseling

Family counseling provides support to family members, teaches healthy communication skills and helps solve problems in the family unit. This allows family members to better understand each other and build healthier relationships together. Family counseling also contributes to reducing family conflicts and meeting the emotional needs of family members.

Benefits of Family Counseling

Development of Communication Skills
  • Family counseling helps to develop effective communication skills among family members.
  • Communication problems within the family are defined and solutions are found.
  • Communication based on understanding, empathy and respect is achieved by teaching the right communication techniques.
Strengthening Family Relationships
  • Family counseling contributes to the strengthening of bonds between family members.
  • Helps reduce conflict, stress and tensions within the family.
  • It enables the formation of relationships based on love, understanding and support.
Resolving Problems and Ensuring Compliance
  • Family counseling offers effective methods for solving problems within the family.
  • Adaptation is achieved by teaching conflict management and problem-solving skills.
  • Balance and harmony are achieved by taking into account the different views and needs within the family.
Promoting Personal Development
  • Family counseling contributes to the personal development of individuals.
  • It enables individuals to better understand themselves and discover their potential.
  • Provides support in reaching personal goals and developing life skills.

Family counseling is a process that enables families to establish healthy relationships, improve their communication skills, solve problems and support their personal development. Counseling sessions run by a good family counselor provide family members with the tools they need for a healthier and happier life. Developing communication skills, strengthening family relations, solving problems and ensuring harmony, supporting personal development are among the main benefits of family counseling.

In Which Situations Can Family Counseling Be Applied?

Marriage Problems

  • Family counseling can be applied when there are communication problems, conflicts and disagreements in marriage.
  • A family counselor can be consulted to work on issues such as marital insecurity, infidelity, and financial problems.
  • It is aimed to eliminate the discord in marriage and to re-establish a healthy relationship.

Divorce or Separation Processes

  • Family counselor can be consulted for emotional support and guidance in divorce or separation processes.
  • Help can be taken to help children adapt to the divorce process and maintain communication between parents.
  • It is aimed to reduce conflicts and ensure order after divorce.

Child Raising Challenges

  • Difficulties in raising children may require parents to seek family counselling.
  • Subjects such as discipline problems, lack of communication, coping with adolescence can be discussed.
  • It is aimed to meet the emotional and psychological needs of children and to create a healthy family environment.

Domestic Violence or Abuse Situations

  • It is important to seek family counseling in cases of domestic violence or abuse.
  • It is aimed to ensure the safety of family members, end violence and support the post-traumatic recovery process.
  • With professional help, the causes and effects of domestic violence or abuse can be studied.

Mourning and Loss Processes

  • Family counseling can be an important source of support for individuals who have experienced loss and their families during the grieving process.
  • It is aimed to experience the grieving process in a healthy way, to develop emotional healing and coping skills.
  • A family counselor guides and offers support to family members through the grieving process.

How Does Family Counseling Work?

First Interview and Evaluation

  • The family counseling process starts with the first interview and evaluation.
  • Information about the needs, problems and goals of the clients is obtained.
  • The family counselor establishes a secure relationship with family members and explains the purposes of the counseling process.

Setting Goals

  • In family counseling, goals are determined and a work plan is created.
  • The focus of the counseling process is determined, taking into account the needs and goals of family members.
  • The family counselor supports the achievement of goals by collaborating with family members.

Counseling Sessions and Techniques

  • The family counseling process proceeds in the form of regular sessions.
  • Counseling sessions use a variety of techniques to improve communication skills, resolve conflicts, and strengthen relationships.
  • The family counselor guides family members, provides support, and helps them deal with problems.

Homework and Practical Practices

  • Homework and practical applications play an important role in family counseling.
  • Family members perform set tasks between counseling sessions and apply the learned skills in daily life.
  • Homework encourages the active participation of family members in the change process and supports progress.

Follow-up and Evaluation

  • The family counseling process is completed with the follow-up and evaluation phase.
  • The effectiveness of the consultancy process and the achievement of the goals are evaluated.
  • The family counselor works with family members to maintain progress or set new goals as needed.

Who Is Family Counseling Suitable For?

Married Couples

  • Family counseling is suitable for strengthening relationships and solving problems between married couples.
  • Couples can benefit from family counseling when they face difficulties such as communication problems, conflicts, cheating.
  • The family counselor helps couples to improve communication, increase understanding and build a healthy relationship.

People with Peer-to-Peer Communication Problems

  • Family counseling can help those who want to resolve communication problems between spouses.
  • Inadequate communication skills can be the source of disagreements and this can negatively affect relationships.
  • Family counselor enables spouses to communicate effectively, strengthens their emotional bonds and helps them solve problems.

Those in the Process of Separation or Divorce

  • Family counseling provides emotional support and guidance to people who are in the process of separation or divorce.
  • Divorce can be a stressful and complex process, and counseling helps parties meet their emotional needs.
  • Family counselor helps people who are separated or in the process of divorce to protect their emotional well-being and look after the welfare of their children.

Facing Parenting Challenges

  • Family counseling provides support and guidance for those facing parenting challenges.
  • Raising a child can be a stressful and complex process at times, causing conflicts between parents.
  • The family counselor helps parents develop effective parenting skills, build healthy relationships with their children, and develop a collaborative approach to discipline.

Those Who Have Problems with Teens or Children

  • Family counseling provides guidance and support to families experiencing problems with young people or children.
  • School problems, behavioral problems, communication difficulties can cause tensions within the family.
  • The family counselor helps family members to establish healthy communication with their children, to understand and solve problems.
Durum Family Counseling Eligibility
Married Couples Family counseling is suitable for strengthening relationships and solving problems between married couples.
Peer-to-Peer Communication Problems Family counseling can help those who want to solve communication problems between spouses.
Those in the Process of Separation or Divorce Family counseling provides emotional support and guidance to people who are in the process of separation or divorce.
Facing Parenting Challenges Family counseling supports and provides guidance to those facing parenting challenges.
Those Who Have Problems with Teens or Children Family counseling provides guidance and support to families experiencing problems with young people or children.

Consultancy Period and Frequency

Subtitle Description
Consulting Period The duration of family counseling may vary depending on the nature of the problem, the family's needs, and the pace of progress. It may consist of several sessions, or a longer course of therapy may be required.
Frequency of Sessions The frequency of sessions is determined by agreement with the family counselor and the needs of the family. It can be weekly, biweekly or monthly sessions.
Variables in the Treatment Process Variables affecting the treatment process include the complexity of the family's problem, the motivation of the participants, the level of communication and cooperation between family members. These variables may affect the duration of the consultation and the frequency of the sessions.

The Cost of Family Counseling

Consulting Fees and Insurance Coverage

Consulting Fees Insurance Coverage
The cost of consultancy services may vary depending on the consultant's experience, area of ​​expertise, and region. Counseling duration and session frequency are also factors that affect the fee. Some insurance companies may cover family counseling services. However, coverage and payment terms may vary depending on insurance companies. You can find out the coverage of family counseling by contacting your insurance company.

Payment Options and Support Programs

Payment Options Support Programs
Payment options for family counseling may vary depending on the counselor's preference. Cash, bank transfer or credit card are generally accepted. Different payment options can be offered in counseling centers. Some areas may have support programs for family counseling. Support programs offered by government or local organizations can help families cover the costs. Relevant institutions can be contacted to apply for these programs.

How to Apply for Family Counseling

Finding a Family Counselor

How to Find Family Counselors
- You can get suggestions from your close circle. It may be useful to get references from people who receive or know family counseling services.
- You can do research on the Internet. You can learn about their areas of expertise and experience by visiting the websites of family counselors.
- You can contact psychological counseling centers or family counseling centers. They can make referrals to professional consultants.

Making Appointment and First Interview

Things to Consider When Making an Appointment
- Get in touch to find out when the consultant is available.
- Find out the location and working hours of the consultant.
- For an appointment, apply to the consultant using the contact information and specify your appointment request when you contact.
- Be prepared for the first interview. In the interview, you can prepare your answers by thinking about the questions that the counselor may ask you.

Planning of Counseling Sessions

Session Planning
- After the first interview, the frequency and duration of the sessions are determined together with the counselor.
- Sessions are usually held in weekly or bi-weekly periods.
- Goals are set together with the consultant and sessions are planned accordingly.
- Session duration can usually vary between 60 minutes and 90 minutes.

References

  • American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) - https://www.aamft.org/
  • National Association of Social Workers (NASW) - https://www.socialworkers.org
  • American Psychological Association (APA) - https://www.apa.org
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) - https://www.nami.org
  • Child Mind Institute - https://childmind.org
Note: The page content is for informational purposes only. Please consult your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.

Doctors Relevant for Family Counseling

Uzm. Kl. Psk. Büşra BÜYÜKAKTAŞ
Kartal/İstanbul
Op. Dr. Aliya İSGANDAROVA ŞENELDİR
Küçükçekmece/İstanbul
Uzm. Kl. Psk. Ömer KURT
Beşiktaş/İstanbul
Psk. Yunus Emre ÖKSÜZ
Bakırköy/İstanbul
Uzm. Kl. Psk. Buse Nur KARA
Bakırköy/İstanbul
Uzm. Kl. Psk. Tuğba KARA AYDINLIOĞLU
Kadıköy/İstanbul
Uzm. Kl. Psk. Esra AKKUŞ
Efeler/Aydın
Uzm. Kl. Psk. Yonca ŞENTÜRK
Üsküdar/İstanbul
Uzm. Kl. Psk. Candan KAVALCI
Kadıköy/İstanbul
Uzm. Psk. Sinem BİÇER UÇAR
Merkez/Çanakkale
Uzm. Psk. Şule ÇOLAKEL
Şişli/İstanbul
Uzm. Dr. Meryem AY YAMAN
Antakya/Hatay