Family Issues Family Systems

Family Issues

Family and Systemic Psychotherapy uses the close interpersonal relationships between family members to help one another. The key to dealing with family issues is to help couples, family members or siblings to explore difficult emotions and thoughts in a safe manner. It helps each member to understand and acknowledge one another's emotions and allow them to express it safely, and in an effective manner.

Family therapy has been shown to be effective for people of all ages who are experiencing family issues or problems in their key systems (relationships) with people with whom they are close. It helps to build relationships and boosts the strengths and self-esteem of everyone in the system. Your family might need intervention if members have substance abuse problems, violent outbursts, if the family experienced a trauma,  if a close family member died or if the family is not functioning at its normal capacity.

This type of therapy enables people to work with one another, instead of on one another and enables families to talk about issues that are causing distress without disrespecting emotions. Instead, it invites engagement of the family members in order to support recovery.

Therapists who address family issues use a range of different approaches to bring about the best results. While group therapy will probably take place once weekly, where the family will all meet with the therapist, individual sessions might be required too. This provides a great supplement to the  family therapy work and is an ideal place for individuals to express their personal family issues that are hard to discuss in front of everyone.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who does family counselling you may want to search the directory to find a professional whose approach will suit you best.

Family Systems

Family Systems therapy is a type of counselling specific to helping interpersonal relationships within a family system. Family Systems counselling is facilitated by marriage and family therapists who work with the various family combinations, including siblings, couples, parent and child, or step families.

The principle of family systems counselling is to help each individual to first learn to understand his or her own emotions, and how to manage interpersonal relationships effectively, as that influences all future relationships. Once family members understand themselves and the emotional system within the family, it is easier to be flexible in relationships with family  members, marriages, community, school and other relationships.

If you are looking for a therapist who offers Family Systems Therapies, please browse our list of practitioners below..

Note: You may narrow your search by selecting more than one filter below.

Mehran Seyed Emami

M.A., RCC
I am a BC Registered Clinical Counsellor (No. 18736) and Canadian Certified Counsellor (No. 10007447). I'm also a Certified Practitioner of Compassionate Inquiry (a model developed by Dr. Gabor Maté), and... Read more

Katy Vinson

M.C., RCC
    • Video on profile
    • Online booking
Welcome! My name is Katy (she/her) and I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the British Columbia Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC). I am also a Registered Art Therapist (RCAT) with the Canadian Art... Read more

Sara Place

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
It is my honour to deeply listen and support your personal journey through whatever life circumstance brings you to counselling.  We can work through difficult life circumstances, relationship challenges (including... Read more

Kristen Bailey

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
People come to therapy for a variety if reasons, but ultimately there is something you are experiencing in your life that is causing you pain and suffering that you want to address. We all experience pain that stems... Read more

Kala McKenzie

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Are you tired of feeling exhausted by worry, or paralyzed by a harsh inner-critic? Perhaps you have noticed that your self-esteem is unhealthy - you either second-guess yourself, not really believing the nice things... Read more

Geraldine Brooks

Ph.D., R.Psych
My counselling is holistic, informed by scientific advances in psychology and neurology as well as Transpersonal, Jungian (the theories of C.G. Jung) and Energy Psychologies. I address a wide variety of client concerns... Read more

Lindsay Faas

M.A., RCC
Lindsay is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a Master of Arts degree in Counselling Psychology. She is the Owner and Director of ThriveLife Counselling & Wellness, as well as full time Clinical Counsellor... Read more

Jennifer Mussell

M.Sc., RCC
    • Online booking
Jennifer is a compassionate and engaged therapist who will help clients imagine desired outcomes and create a roadmap to achieve their goals. She balances offering a safe space to process emotions, explore and... Read more

Rotem Regev

Ph.D., R.Psych
Hello! I am a Registered Psychologist (PhD in Clinical Psychology).  I am the author of multiple journal articles and book chapters, an invited speaker in the areas of attachment, family transitions, and trauma,... Read more

Lydia Hamilton

M.Sc., RCC
    • Online booking
In 2000, Lydia left the film industry to pursue her passion of helping people help themselves. Now, over 20 years later, she brings her wealth of experience and education to her private practice based in the Cowichan... Read more

Morgan MacCarl

M.Couns., RCC
*My practice is currently full and I am unable to take on new clients* I work with adults and couples who are struggling with grief, trauma, relationship challenges, ADHD symptoms, life transitions, and those who are... Read more

Anthony Cave

M.A., R.Psych
    • In-Person Sessions
About me My private practice consists of psychotherapy services for youth, adults and elders. An appointment usually lasts an hour and takes place in a confidential office setting. I also provide clinical consulting... Read more

Jayne Simpson

M.S.W., RSW
    • Online booking
I am the founder of Ash Tree Counselling, and believe in the importance of building a relationship for healing to begin and sustain. Part of my personal on-going relational healing is re-connecting to my ancestral... Read more

Chris Rensch

M.A., RCC
    • Blog on profile
    • Online booking
Chris has specialized training in trauma and child therapy. He helps kids and adults get unstuck when life circumstances create barriers. As one of the only male trauma-focused children’s therapists... Read more
    • Online booking
Dear clients, I am sending you my warmest greetings as you take this incredible step of showing up for yourself here. Life could be unbearable and confusing at times. I believe that the complexity of life is... Read more

Coleen Adderley

M.A., RCC
Coleen is the Founder and Clinical Director of Reflective Soul Counselling. She is passionate about helping others and believes that each obstacle we face only makes us that much stronger.   Coleen has over... Read more

Lisa Voth

MC, RCC
    • Video on profile
    • Online booking
Three common things I hear: you have some understanding of why something happens intellectually but that doesn't stop it from happening or feeling bad. you can't figure out why you keep... Read more

Ryan Boyer

M.Ed., CCC
    • Online booking
I support those who are struggling with their connection to self, and others feeling lost, alone, and/or stuck in life. I support men to connect with healthy mascuinity. I am a transpersonal therapist who believes in... Read more

Edie Reiman

M.S.W., RSW
*****Edie Reiman MSW, RSW is a Psychotherapist, Life Coach and Presenter. Private Practice located in South Surrey/White Rock, BC.  Video and Tele-Counselling/Coaching with clients in Vancouver,... Read more

Gillian Curtis

MCP, RCC
Hi there, I'm Gillian! I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (#22672) and hold a Master’s in Counselling Psychology from Adler University. If you’re here, know that you’ve taken a huge step... Read more

Krista Sao

MCP, RCC
    • Online booking
I work with people who have a desire for change but are unsure where to start. If you want life to be more fulfilling, but you feel held back by fear, guilt, or shame. You’ve engaged in new behaviours but... Read more

Nicole Neufeld

M.C., RCC
Hi, I'm Nicole (she/they). If you're in a space where you're not feeling like yourself, you're not alone. Maybe you've been experiencing worry, or a sense of 'what's the point?' about... Read more

Andrew Herfst

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
*I provide an Online / Telephone counselling option* I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors and a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) with the Canadian... Read more

Kari-Ann Thor

M.Ed., RCC
A Bit About Käri-Ann: I have had a part-time private counselling practice since 2003 and come from a history of Outdoor Education as my first career, followed by over 20 years working in the social service sector... Read more

Dr Kira Celeste

Ph.D., RCC
    • Video on profile
    • Online booking
Hi—I’m Kira Celeste, a counsellor who is passionate about helping individuals who long for a deeper, fuller experience of life navigate through their history, current circumstances, and societal influences... Read more

Jennifer Scott

M.A., RCC
    • Article(s) on profile
Please note I am now offering virtual counselling by phone or video as well as in-person counselling. Many clients have found virtual counselling just as effective as in-person counselling. I welcome you to give it... Read more

James Lowe

M.A., CCC
    • Online booking
James is a counsellor who practices multicultural counselling in Vancouver, Richmond and Metro Vancouver, BC. James provides cross cultural counselling and therapy to a variety of ethnic and minority immigrants and... Read more
    • Online booking
Simone is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with over 5 years of experience working with clients from varying populations and backgrounds including members of LGBTQ2SIA+, BIPOC, and neurodivergent communities. Simone... Read more

Elaine Zbitniff

M.A., RCC
Elaine is a registered clinical counsellor and has former experience as a registered nurse in the specialties burns and plastic surgery unit and in a hospice. Her knowledge as a nurse has been informative to... Read more

Amrita Grewal

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Everyday life has become increasingly complex because we are continually presented with endless possibilities of how things ‘could be' or ‘should be.’ The juggle is real and can lead to... Read more