Family Issues, Life Transitions, Marriage and/or Relationship Issues Narrative Therapy

Family Issues, Life Transitions, Marriage and/or Relationship 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.

Life transitions can be rewarding, but that doesn't mean they are necessarily easy. Change usually comes with mixed emotions, challenges and stress. It's natural to feel anxious, confused, unsettled and fatigued, no matter how you have looked forward to a change. While promotions at work can be positive and exciting, there are also negative transitions that could make you feel hopeless and negative, anxious and unable to see the solutions to the inevitable problems you face.


Some of the common transitions that people face include moving house, divorce, remarriage, empty nest syndrome, concerns about aging, adjusting to a new job, illness, or death of a loved one.

During periods of transitions, it's common for emotions from some of your past experiences to be triggered, which can make the current situation feel so much worse. That's when confusion takes over, leaving you feeling out of control and confused.

Transition counselling can help you deal with your life changes and the emotions that you are feeling in a safe and effective manner. You will be able to find the root causes of your reactions and you will be able to face the changes head on. You may even be able to push past your self-imposed limits to broaden your horizons and find a strong, new you.

You will gain clarity and understanding, as well as self-confidence to help you feel more grounded and you will develop a sense of purpose in your life. Transition therapy  has helped hundreds of thousands of people to come to terms with difficult issues in life and you can too.

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

Entering into a relationship means merging your life with another person, understanding his or her flaws, quirks and beliefs. With marriage rates declining and divorce statistics set at 50%, it is clear that people are increasingly challenged by marriage and relationship issues, and many lack effective ways to address them. So how can we bridge the gap to understanding our partners better and enjoying romantic bliss?

Many factors affect the interpersonal relationship between two partners who are a couple and sometimes it's hard to see the cause of conflict or friction in a relationship. While some people find divorce to be the best or only option, other people speak to counsellors and psychologists  in a bid to try salvage the relationship.

Signs that indicate a need for couples counselling include poor communication in a relationship, affairs, living past one another, inability to resolve marriage of couples' issues, and acting out negative feelings. When divorce seems like the only option, or if a couple is staying together for the kids' sake, that's a sure sign that therapy is needed.

Therapists do not necessarily  believe that all marriages can be salvaged, but counselling can often help even some of the most challenged relationships.  Through talk therapy, the couple will discover again why they fell in love and what they can do to get back to that place in their marriage. They use a range of effective, proven methods to help couples in any situation to restore intimacy and move past the hurt and wounds to a safe and comfortable place.

The concrete tools used by marriage therapists provide guidance in a supportive and encouraging setting and empower clients to restructure their thoughts and emotions. It helps the couple to work with each other, instead of on one another, helping each individual to find the person he or she is at the core level and to build a happy union.

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

Narrative Therapy

Narrative Therapy provides clients the opportunity to regain their ability to develop positive relationships by healing past wounds. It can be used in individual, family, adoption and couples contexts.

This type of therapy offers a respectful and non-blaming approach which acknowledges each person as the author of his or her own life. Narrative therapy assumes that people have a range of inner resources that help them deal with difficulties and problems in their lives.

Narrative therapy can be used with children, adults, in groups, couples and individuals. It can help them cope with traumatic events without the need to discuss it directly.

If you are looking for a therapist who offers Narrative Therapy, please browse our list of practitioners below..

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

Bonnie Hall

M.Couns., RCC
Bonnie Hall has a Master’s of Counselling degree, and is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a private practice in Richmond, BC. Bonnie offers counselling services for people who are feeling frustrated in... Read more

Michelle Meier

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
Welcome! I'm Michelle Meier, a Registered Clinical Counsellor based in Langley, British Columbia. With a passion for supporting teens and adults through various life challenges, I specialize in providing a healing... Read more

Sharon Southey

M.A., RCC
Sharon Southey is a skilled professional with a nursing background, who has been counselling people since 1992. She likes to work with individuals who are teenage or adult, families of all types and couples,... Read more

Charene Cranston

M.Couns., RCC
Hello! My name is Charene (she/her). Sometimes we get caught up in our day-to-day routines or we feel too stretched, stressed, or spent to get going on creating the future we want for ourselves. Other times, there... Read more

Sandy Hawkins

M.A., RCC
"Although feelings of stress, anxiety, depression or relationship conflict may sometimes seem all-encompassing, they do not define who we are. Therapy is a process, and I believe we are each the experts of our own... Read more

Jennifer Turnbrook

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Life can have many challenges. Sometimes you can navigate through difficult things on your own while some issues are not so easily resolved. If you’re having a rough time and unsure how to get started, counselling... Read more

Alita Dommann

M.D., RCC
Alita is an Adlerian Psychotherapist providing Individual and Couples Counselling. She is a Registered Clinical Counsellor, Canadian Certified Counsellor, and Adler University Alumni. After working as a medical... Read more

Desiree Blume

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
I am a registered clinical counsellor who has worked therapeutically with children, adults, couples and families for over a decade.  I will offer you a safe and caring environment where you can identify and... Read more

Sarah Siddiqui RCC

M.S.W., RSW
    • Online booking
*Now Accepting Clients.  For insurance purposes: please note I am an RSW and RCC* Whether trying therapy has been an unfulfilled new year’s resolution for the past number of years, something that just... Read more

Jennifer Tillar

M.C., RCC
   My approach to the counselling process is that not one approach fits all. Although my background and experience is rooted in attachment-based theory and cognitive behavioral approaches used within a... Read more

Nadia Oomer

M.C., RCC
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor and have been working in the mental health and substance abuse sector for over twelve years. I work with clients with a wide variety of psychological, health and life problems... Read more

Aaron Chin

M.A., RCC
    • Video on profile
    • Online booking
Hi, I’m Aaron Chin. I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC# 21391) practicing online, and in person for clients in Surrey BC on some days of the week. I strongly believe in the power of therapy to... Read more

Evan Quinn

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Welcome to Equalibrium Counselling. As a client-centred holistic therapist, my goal is to support you in navigating life's inevitable difficulties. Whether you're dealing with emotions, thoughts, life... Read more

Cynthia Gyuk

B.S.W., RSW
Welcome and thank you for taking a moment to read my profile. As a Registered Social Worker with specialized training, I provide a compassionate and safe space to support individuals and families who may be ... Read more

Elisa-Maria Chong

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
Our lives each contain moments of great joy and sorrow, pain and pleasure, opportunity, and obstacle. At the center of these experiences is our innate search for connection. We need relationships, they are precious and... Read more

Andrea Zimmering

M.C., RCC
    • Online booking
I come to this line of work passionate about providing support to individuals seeking change and growth. I strive to show up with integrity in my work and ensure that my clients feel seen, heard, and safe to show up... Read more

Graham Haber

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
My name is Graham (he/him). I'm a registered clinical counsellor (RCC #19364) with the BCACC. I work with adults and adolescents. My private practice is based out of Squamish BC, the traditional, ancestral, and... Read more

Halina Deptuck

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Periods of struggle, challenge, or feeling stuck inevitably occur throughout our lives. Whether you’ve gone through a life transition, are experiencing low mood, heightened anxieties, relationship challenges,... Read more

Rochelle Chapman

M.A., RCC
    • Video on profile
Counselling can be a way to grow while facing difficult circumstances. It can also be about building resources or heading in a new direction. In each case, you have the opportunity to become more yourself. Whatever... Read more

Bob Bircher

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
Bob is a very experienced counsellor and has spent his working life helping people solve problems, make good decisions, set necessary boundaries, and improve communication. His counselling philosophy is very practical,... Read more

Tara Azimi

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) and Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) with over 12 years of experience. I’m also completing a PhD where I collaborate on research projects on diabetes, domestic abuse... Read more

Phyllis Chan

M.Ed., CCC
    • Online booking
I am a Canadian Certified Counsellor with good standing. I have over 15 years of counselling experience. I completed my master's degree in counselling psychology at the University of British Columbia. I... Read more