Cross cultural issues affect the way in which we experience life. Our culture is determined by more than our food, music and language. Family relationships, gender roles, sexual expression, concept of time, humour, politeness and common sense are just some of the elements that are influenced by our spiritual and religious background, ethnicity and race.

Cross cultural issues usually become more pronounced when we move or immigrate and become exposed to people from other races and religions. It's common to feel different, and to lose your sense of self-esteem. Being bicultural or multicultural means that you may be confused about your allegiance to more than one community.  

Relationships can also bring out the worst of cross cultural issues. Behaviours that are normal in one culture can seem insensitive, unkind and even obnoxious to the other partner. This can cause serious family, marital or social issues. It has been shown that cross cultural issues can lead to domestic violence, as well as victimization in the community.

If you feel that you don't fit in, lonely, anxious, or even victimized, you should consider getting help. People in cross cultural relationships who feel that their partners are intrusive, removed or unkind can benefit from counselling, too.

Cross cultural issues counselling offers a safe environment for people to explore their own history and the identities that they have developed to survive emotionally in a multicultural society. Therapy is a great tool for multicultural families to find common ground and reshape an identity for the family as individual members and as a family unit. Done individually or in a group setting, there are many ways in which to help a person to keep their own identities in a multicultural world.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who can help address your cross cultural issues you may want to search the directory to find a professional whose approach will suit you best.
 

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 conflict is very common in society today, but it also hurts. Family should be your closest friends and loved ones; the people with whom you can share anything and feel the most comfortable to be around. Family should be able to count on one another and support one another.

However, for many people around the world, the last people they are prepared to turn to in times of trouble, is their families. Many people see their families as a source of stress, misunderstanding, disconnect and anger. The only consistent feedback is dramatic arguments, unmet expectations, and emotional hurt.

It is not only dysfunctional families that have conflict. Even the closest of families don't have perfect relationships all the time; they also experience family conflict from time to time and it can be hurtful, frustrating and challenging. Family conflict presents as little irritations that grow to buried resentments to anger and dramatic arguments. Conflict with those people with whom we are so close, the people who know us so well, can bring up intense emotions.

Family dynamics are not always harmonious, particularly when people all live together in the same house can present a range of challenges for the whole family unit. It becomes more complicated when extended family becomes involved. Even if only two people are in conflict, the whole family can be affected. If more people are having relationship problems, the unit can unravel quickly.

While therapists take different approaches to dealing with family conflict, it is good to know that they share a common goal and that is to heal family conflicts through enabling better verbal and nonverbal communication, and dealing with individual issues.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who offers professional  therapies or counselling to address your family conflict issues, you may want to search the directory to find a professional whose approach will suit you best.