When it comes to families, we all have stories. Typically, the good stories far outnumber the bad. For some families, however, it seems that the drama never ends. While almost everyone can benefit from counseling, it is often these families who need it the most. If your family is experiencing issues, here are five ways that you may benefit from counseling:
In this post:
1.Communication Skills
It’s not unusual for a lack of communication skills to be at the heart of family problems. Parents don’t know how to relate to their children, children don’t know how to talk to their parents, and spouses may stop communicating altogether. With the help of a professional counselor, family members can learn how to communicate with one another in a respectful, constructive manner. Whether you need to learn how to talk to your kids or talk to your spouse, having better communication skills is always beneficial.
2.Grief Support
Whether a loved one has died or a divorce is imminent, a counselor can help all members of the family deal with their grief in an emotionally healthy way. It’s an unfortunate truth that many people, young and old, don’t know how to express their emotions. During times of grief, these people can lash out verbally, become depressed or, in the worst cases, become physically violent. A counselor can help the family deal with grief in a more healthy way, no matter the cause of the feelings.
3.Conflict Resolution
Problem solving is a skill that needs to be learned, just as conflict resolution is a skill best developed through learning. Most people don’t know that there are ways to argue that don’t result in hurt feelings and bruised egos. Resolving conflicts in a positive manner includes both effective listening and effective speaking. A professional counselor can give you the skills that you need to “argue” in a positive way. Consider that counseling can give you the skills to argue with a loved one and get an issue solved without everyone walking away angry.
4.Parenting Skills
There’s no manual that tells us how to be great parents. It’s not unusual for parents to face issues with their children that they just don’t know how to handle. A counselor can help parents learn how to navigate the perils of child rearing by providing education and necessary skills to parent effectively. Counselors can also meet with the family as a whole in order to discover the underlying causes of the problems.
5.Nuclear Families
It’s not uncommon for adult children to return home, often with their own children in tow. Likewise, it’s not unheard of for elderly parents to move in with their adult children. As willing as the family members are to live together, these living situations aren’t without their hurdles. A counselor can give family members ideas on how to live together in harmony.
Even if you consider your family to be well-adjusted and happy, if you look closely, there are issues that you could use help with. It’s the rare family that will get no benefit from group counseling. Whether you need better communication tools or need better methods with which to solve conflicts, professional counseling can be of great benefit to your family.
Marie Chan blogs about higher education and counseling. If you are interested in becoming a counselor, you might consider applying for a masters degree in counseling at Wake Forest/ or UNC Charlotte.
