How Counselling Supports Families Going Through Major Life Changes

Whenever there are any significant life changes that concern a family, all members must adapt to those changes as a group. Some of these changes may involve shifting residence to another city or state, the loss of a member of the family, or economic problems.

One of the best ways to cope with life changes is by consulting a counsellor. According to statistics, nearly 3.4 million Australian adults were counselled for multiple issues in 2021.

So, if your family, too, is going through a major life transition, here is how counselling can help.

1. Builds Emotional Resilience 

Each time there is a major family transition, all members experience different emotions and express them in unique ways.

For example, when a family is suddenly forced into financial crisis, the adults are likely to be frustrated and angry, but others, especially children, might feel confused.

To ensure that every member can manage their emotions and channel them in a healthy way, family counselors provide therapy in several ways.

The counsellor will provide each member with an avenue to share their thoughts. Then they'll support the members to interact with each other with empathy and understanding. 

2. Facilitates Understanding 

Prominent Sydney counselling and relationship counselling agencies help the family members understand each other better.

For example, if one member becomes abruptly withdrawn, violent, or even aggressive in response to an extreme change, the rest of the members will naturally worry.

But a family counsellor asks the members to understand each other's views. This means that while a member might not understand why another member acts out when there's a drastic change in life, they can at least be sympathetic and respectful. 

3. Special Help for Children 

Some changes, such as a divorce, can bring quite a lot of mental trauma to children. Since children don't understand the importance of these life experiences and counselling, it then becomes the responsibility of the family to provide them with one.

Continuous counselling could be effective for children going through their parents' divorce or some other emotional issue that they want to talk about.

The counsellor will not just help children deal with their emotions but also recommend other options, such as talking to a trusted family member or friend, or calling the child services department to obtain help. 

4. Creating Rituals and Routines 

During a drastic change in the family, the members can end up feeling disconnected from their daily routine, especially if it's something like moving to a place far from home. This is where members have to feel a sense of normalcy.

If the family is unable to do so themselves, a counsellor will expose them to alternative routines and rituals so that the family can remain unbroken.

For example, the counsellor may ask all members to have breakfast together before going to work, or come home in the evening and eat dinner together. In a life that appears chaotic and disoriented, these little things can create unbreakable bonds. 

5. Treating Addiction Disorders 

Addiction disorders are a major life transition, where not just the addict is facing severe physical and mental tension. However, the family members of the addict also face hard times.

Here, the family therapy is aimed at observing the group dynamics and checking the reason behind the addiction of the member. This member will be asked to talk freely and advised on how to shift their focus from substances to healthier activities. If needed, the family will be asked to participate in group therapy and support one another. 

6. Future Planning 

A family counsellor will not just suggest strategies and exercises for the family members to weather the rough days. They will also create a detailed blueprint of what the members need to accomplish with their therapy and how to deal with the future.

Family guidance sessions may include creating personal roadmaps for each member and adapting them to their individual choices, or maintaining a standard plan and then observing everyone.

They will give the family short-term and long-term goals and keep monitoring the changes to ensure the family has sufficient skills to deal with the future. 

Conclusion 

Although family counselling can be very beneficial, it's always advisable to seek a professional and licensed counsellor. So, don't forget to verify the credentials of the counsellor, their previous services, and their client reviews before approaching them.