Divorce and/or Separation, Family Issues Counsellors

Divorce and/or Separation, Family Issues

Breaking the vow of "till death do us part" and getting divorced has been listed on the list of top things that people fear. The end of a marriage can indeed cause incredible confusion, sadness, grief, anger, guilt, fear, anxiety and shame. Not only does the end of a marriage affect a couple, but also the children.

Issues that can cause a marriage to fail include criticism, lack of respect, defensiveness, and aloofness, to name a few. Dealing with these issues might save a marriage. Mediation therapy can help couples even before a divorce, when the signs of marital disintegration starts to show. Couples therapy is an excellent tool at that point in a marriage to see whether saving the marriage is a viable option, and if it's not, it can help them find ways to reach settlements, move forward, and co-parent in a healthy and constructive way.

For children going through the divorce of their parents, therapy is critical. While parents are facing the realities of divorce and the emotional trauma, they often don't have the time or inclination to help their children deal with their sense of abandonment, pain, loss or guilt. Children may even feel that they are to blame for their parents' problems. Therapy can help children to come to terms with these issues and find strategies to move forward in a positive way.

In the case where couples counselling is not an option, a therapist can help the person who was left behind deal with the grief from the divorce. Therapy is aimed at empowering the individual to overcome grief and negative emotions and to move forward as a single person.

If you are looking for a counsellor or psychologist who addresses divorce 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.

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

Robyn Kozak

M.Ed., RCC
    • Video on profile
    • Online booking
Whether it is struggles with trauma, anxiety, pregnancy, postpartum, parenting, relationships, or mood, I support individuals with identifying what they want to be different in their life and co-creating a... Read more

John Woychuk

M.A., CCC
    • Blog on profile
I'm here to provide a safe space for you in your time of distress, crisis or loss. Safety begins with connecting with another human being and not being alone in your struggle. Whatever is happening for you will be... Read more

Daphne Gelbart

M.A., RCC
    • Video on profile
Daphne Gelbart, MA, RCC, is a Vancouver registered clinical counsellor (Registration Number 3290), a graduate of the University of British Columbia (UBC) Department of Educational & Counselling Psychology and... Read more

Colette Mrazek

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
My counselling career began over 20 years ago and since then, I have worked in a variety of settings with many different populations, such as youth at risk, children who have been orphaned, young parents,... Read more

Jenny Hsu

M.C., RCC
    • Online booking
Are you feeling disconnected from those around you? You might find yourself stuck in the same arguments or patterns with your partner.  Or you may be struggling to find a sense of belonging in your family,... Read more

Lisa Woolgar

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
If you're suffering through a loss, or feeling emotionally overwhelmed or stuck, I'm an Registered Clinical Counsellor who specializes in helping people navigate even their most challenging emotions, felt... Read more

Balraj Singh

M.C., RCC
    • Online booking
Hello and Welcome! Finding the right counsellor is not an easy task but it is an important one. The stressors of our everyday lives can become tough to handle thus I hope to share a collaborative path which will help... Read more

Nicklas Ehrlich

M.S.W., RCC
I help you get to the root of your problems, train your brain to be more resilient, overwrite unwanted default programming, and finally feel equipped to live a balanced and optimal life. 95% of your thoughts and... Read more

Chi Hung

M.Couns., RCC
You don’t have to struggle alone Living with anxiety, fear, and helplessness is difficult. Relationship can be confusing and disappointing. Dealing with your parents or your children can be frustrating. You are... 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

Claire Sutton

M.A., RCC
I help people who feel stuck. I help people who are angry and overwhelmed. I help people who are afraid of change, afraid of making the wrong decision and afraid that they might not be good enough.  I help... Read more

Susan Baum

Ph.D., R.Psych
"When we are no longer able to change a situation—we are challenged to change ourselves." Victor Frankl To have my clients take up the challenge to change—that is the power I try to help... Read more

Deena Chochinov

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
Deena is a Registered Clinical Counsellor with a private practice in Vancouver since 2000. She works with individuals, couples and families and uses a variety of therapeutic approaches to help clients find the self-... 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

Gerry Bock

M.A., RCC
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Gerry Bock earned his Masters degree in 1990. He has been practicing as a Registered Clinical Counsellor for over 30 years (since 1991).  The practice environment and philosophy offers committed, accountable,... 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

Michelle Coulombe

M.A., RCC
    • Online booking
In-Person, Video and telephone counselling available.  I have a BA in Psychology, as well as an MA in Counselling Psychology (family specialization) from UBC. I have been a Certified Canadian... Read more

Peter Vaughan

M.A., RCC
Certified Gottman Method Therapist, Peter frequently addresses couples communication during conflict, restoring fidelity and commitment, or building intimacy and sexuality. Other common issues: ongoing incompatibilities... Read more

David Brown

M.S.W., RCSW
Most of us want to make changes and improvements in our life, yet we tend to rely on the same old approaches (or habits) despite our best intentions. My approach to counselling is to support people to experiment with... Read more

Jeff Morley

Ph.D., R.Psych
I am an experienced Registered Psychologist (#1577), as well as a Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress.  In my practice I help people working through different challenges in their life from relationship and... Read more

Rebecca Rauscher

M.Ed., RCC
    • Online booking
I have over 15 years experience as a helping professional, first as an Occupational Therapist and then as a Registered Clinical Counsellor. Working with people is my passion! I love joining my clients on their... Read more