Family counselors have many ways of handling family related issues but “communication” is always an important factor they love to discourse. Counselors do not mend relationships but identify and teach ways of resolving differences in a family. These communication gaps, differences or views abound in members of a family. Here are very important methods applied by counselors and therapists in resolving family problems:
1. “I” Comments – Many problems in families are due to the use of this word “I”. It not only reduces the way you blame people but also help you control your emotions. For example, it is advised that statements like “you annoy me” could be changed into “I am annoyed”. It also increases the maturity level of the people involved.
2. Family Floor data – Parents are normally told to state the nature of their relation, the family tree, give information about their family members. This is relevant as it could give clues to solving problems.
3. Communication Building – Lack of communication or communication gap causes a lot of problems within a family. Communication techniques such as talking with each other about their feelings, talking about their old good pasts, listening to each other, encouraging one another in their different work specification, encouraging the children in their academic and extra-curricular activities are advised in families.
4. Family Photos – running a collective overview of different pictures of the family taking at different times and getting different response from each member is very helpful. This presents you with a clear picture of each family member’s present state of mind.
5. Play Therapy – Children respond well to this. Ask the children to give a picture either by drawing or otherwise of how they feel. The child can arrange people objects, figures or animals in a sand tray. A situation of the family would be put down into that tray.
6. Special occasions – it is very essential that families keep dates. Either going away from the home zone for some time or having special gathering and rare discussions in the family. This increases the bond and love in the family.
Counseling takes time and patience. Waiting and listening to each member of the family as they open up will give a better insight to the family problem and highlight ways of solving it.
