When should we consider family therapy?

Family therapy may be indicated when families are characterised by high levels of overt or covert conflict that they have difficulty resolving.

Family therapy may assist when a new family member joins the family, for instance, the arrival of a new baby; when developing new family dynamics when parents re-marry (blended families); or in negotiating the changes accompanying the divorce of the parental subsystem.

Family therapy may also assist a family in grieving and adjusting to the loss of a family member or when a family member is diagnosed with an illness and the family needs education and assistance in adjusting to the diagnosis.