Is conflict causing a strain on the relationships within your family?
Conflict among family members can arise due to various situations such as grief, financial difficulties and major life changes.
Additionally, issues between parents such as infidelity and divorce can place a strain on the entire family’s relationships.
The goal of family counselling and therapy is to help family members better understand one another, improve communication and develop healthy relationships. This can subsequently help to reduce conflicts.
Through family counselling and therapy, families will be equipped with the skills to help them identify dysfunctional behaviours, navigate conflicts and build trust between one another.
Speak to our counsellors and psychotherapists to learn how we can help you rebuild your familial relationships again.
Issues That Family Counselling Can Help With
Our family counselling offerings are designed to provide assistance to individuals, couples, and families who are facing emotional challenges as a result of issues within the family dynamic.
These difficulties might arise from tense interactions among married partners, siblings, parents and children, as well as among members of the extended family. Some examples include:
- Conflict within the family
- Financial difficulties
- Difficulties at work or school
- Infidelity
- Divorce or separation
- Arguments involving child custody
- Parenthood
- Formation of a step-family
- Loss of a family member
- Illness or disability of a family member
- Family member with special needs
- Major life changes
- Transition into marriage
- Coping with personal grief or loss
Signs That A Family Needs Counselling
If you notice the following signs within your household, seeking family counselling and therapy may be helpful in improving your family’s relationships.
Communication breakdown
If communication is scarce within a family, resolving conflicts and building relationships become difficult. A family therapist or counsellor can help to improve communication and teach family members how to resolve conflicts.
Misdirected/displaced anger
Anger that is directed at the wrong person is known as misdirected anger. This behaviour can be hurtful and destructive, especially if it occurs repeatedly to the same person.
Family counselling can help to identify the root cause of this anger, which can sometimes be other family members, and teach the individual to better express this emotion.
Loss of trust
Trust forms the foundation of any healthy relationship, and within a family, it’s especially crucial. If trust has been compromised, whether due to infidelity, broken promises, lies, or other actions, it can lead to emotional distance and strained interactions.
By providing a structured environment for healing and rebuilding, family counselling supports the gradual restoration of trust and the reestablishment of strong familial bonds.
Withdrawal
When a family member intentionally separates himself or herself from the rest of the family, this is known as withdrawal or isolation. This can be a response to traumatising experiences such as bullying, breakups, abuse or family issues. It can also be caused by feelings of unacceptance within a family.
Through counselling and therapy, the root cause for this behaviour can be addressed and relationships can be rebuilt.
Changes in children’s behaviour
A decline in grades or disruptive behaviour in school could be a sign of deeper-rooted problems stemming from the family. Family counselling can help identify and address the problem.
Constant Conflict
When a family experiences ongoing and unresolved conflicts, it can create a toxic and stressful environment for everyone involved. These conflicts might revolve around differing opinions, values, or preferences, and they can escalate to the point where communication breaks down and relationships suffer.
Through guided discussions and conflict resolution techniques, family counselling enables the identification of underlying issues and supports the restoration of healthier dynamics.
Major stressors
Major stressors such as the death of a loved one, divorce or separation can result in grief and cause rifts in the family as they struggle to deal with these issues. A family therapist can help families better cope with these huge life changes.
Benefits of Family Counselling
Family counselling offers numerous benefits that can greatly improve the dynamics and well-being of your family. Through the guidance of a trained professional, family counselling can help you:
- Resolve conflicts within the family
- Foster understanding among family members
- Identify and address problematic relational dynamics
- Improve communication and problem-solving
- Acquire skills in conflict resolution and negotiation
- Replace unhealthy behaviours with positive alternatives
- Build trust and openness within the family
- Strengthen family bonds and overall functioning
Approaches Used During Family Counselling
At Sofia Wellness Clinic, we use Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) within a systemic approach.
Emotionally Focused Family Therapy
EFFT is a therapeutic approach widely employed during family counselling sessions to foster deeper emotional connections, enhance communication and resolve conflicts within family units. Grounded in attachment theory, EFFT places emphasis on understanding the emotional bonds among family members and how these bonds impact behaviour and interactions.
The aim:
Our aim is to offer a comprehensive framework that addresses various aspects of family dynamics, nurturing understanding, effective communication, and emotional well-being.
This involves identifying and enhancing communication and behavior patterns within the family, fostering understanding among family members, ultimately reducing conflict and unhappiness.
Through Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), we work on addressing emotional needs and forming secure attachment bonds. This helps families cultivate enduring, supportive relationships that pave the way for long-term harmony and emotional well-being.
How it works:
In sessions, our therapists will explore your family’s patterns of communication, conflict, and emotional engagement. By identifying underlying emotions and unmet needs, our therapist will help family members express their feelings more openly and empathically, creating a safe environment for vulnerability.
Each person will take turns sharing what they hope to achieve through counselling and what they experience. Questions will be used to encourage family members to reflect on their values, hopes, beliefs, needs and assumptions. This can help to develop a greater understanding between family members and new ways of thinking.
Through structured interventions and exercises, such as role-playing or guided discussions, EFFT guides families towards restructuring negative interaction cycles and forming new, healthier ways of relating.
The counselling sessions will be designed depending on each family’s goals, profile and needs. For example, drawing exercises may be utilised for families with young children to engage them and help them better express their emotions.
If necessary, our counsellors may recommend individual (adult or teenage) counselling on top of family counselling to help individuals better express their feelings and thoughts with others.
Our Family Counsellors
Sophia Goh
Principal Counsellor
Sophia is a professional counsellor and psychotherapist who works with children, youths, adults, couples and families.
She helps individuals experiencing a range of issues such as delinquency behaviour, stress and anger management and relationship challenges.
Mariya Angelova
Senior Counsellor
Mariya is an experienced counsellor whose area of expertise lies in working with adolescents, gifted children, families, and adults.
Her practice is informed by Choice Theory Reality Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.
Claire Leong
Counsellor
Claire is an experienced counsellor whose expertise lies in working with children, teenagers and families.
She is skilled in working with families with different dynamics including those with intellectually disadvantaged children and/or elderly dealing with depression and dementia.
Why Choose Sofia Wellness Clinic for Family Counselling?
Qualified counsellors
Claire, Sophia and Mariya are qualified counsellors and psychotherapists who have received education and training in the field of counselling and therapy.
Experienced professionals
Our team is experienced in dealing with individuals of all ages and backgrounds. We are equipped with the tools and knowledge to help you address your challenges and cultivate positive habits.
Passionate team
We believe that wellness is about flourishing in various aspects of one’s life. Thus, we are strongly passionate about helping our clients overcome their challenges and lead fulfilling lives.
Our Family Counselling Fees
These are our fees for family counselling at Sofia Wellness Clinic. The fees for in-person and online counselling sessions are the same.
| Consultation | Duration | Senior Counsellor | Counsellor | Practicum Counsellor* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual Session (Initial) | 75 min | $250 | $220 | $80 |
| Individual Session (Subsequent) | 50 min | $200 | $170 | $50 |
| 6 Session Package (Individuals)** | 6 sessions x 50 min | $1080 | $920 | -- |
| Couples/Family Session (Initial) | 75 min | $300 | $280 | -- |
| Couples/Family Session (Subsequent) | 75 min | $300 | $280 | -- |
| Out-of-Session Phone Call / Email | Per 10 min block | $35 | $35 | -- |
FAQs about Family Counselling
Who should go for family counselling?
Family counselling is beneficial for anyone facing challenges or seeking to strengthen their family relationships.
It can help with communication issues, parent-child relationships, divorce or separation, blended families, loss or grief, and behavioural issues.
What does a family counsellor or therapist do?
The role of a family counsellor or therapist includes (but is not limited to):
- Observing the interactions and communications between family members
- Facilitating conversations and discussions between family members
- Helping families work towards a shared objective
- Helping families improve their methods of communication
- Educating families on dysfunctional behaviours
- Educating families on methods of resolving conflict
What can I expect from family counselling or therapy?
During family counselling or therapy, the counsellor will examine the relationships, communication patterns and interactions between family members. Based on the observations made, steps will be taken to help the family improve their relationship and communication.
Do note that although a family may come in together for counselling, the subsequent sessions depend on the issues that the family is struggling with.
Our counsellors may suggest seeing different family members together such as a parent and child (e.g. the parent who is struggling most with the child), parents together, or children together. It may not be necessary for all family members to be present for all the sessions.
How can I prepare for family counselling?
To achieve the most out of family counselling, you may want to learn some ways to prepare your family for the session. Here are some tips:
- Be open in talking about counselling and therapy with one another
- Discuss the purpose of counselling and what a family counsellor/therapist does
- Share how the entire family could benefit from counselling
- Before each session, list some topics for discussion and think about what to say
What should I do if my family members refuse to go for family counselling?
If your family members refuse to go for family counselling, you can try:
- Sharing your goals and reasons behind wanting to go for counselling
- Sharing the benefits of counselling
- Understanding their reasons for refusing therapy
- Addressing their doubts about counselling
- Suggesting a trial period before letting them decide if they are keen to commit for the long run
However, if your family is still resistant to the idea of counselling, attending counselling sessions as an individual first may be helpful. By showing a positive change in your life and sharing your counselling experience, your family may become more open to seeing a family counsellor.
Are there situations in which family counselling might not work?
Family counselling is not recommended in instances where domestic violence is present. Attempts at therapy during ongoing violence may increase the risk of serious harm.
In cases of infidelity, the counsellor may recommend seeing the individual separately or may refer them for individual counselling.
If you need advice on the type of counselling for your situation, you may come in for an initial assessment. Thereafter, our counsellors will make a recommendation.
