Family Counseling Techniques

If you are reading this article, then you are puzzled about the current events occurring in your life or you are concerned about a loved one's current life scenario. In the past few years, people in large numbers have gone for counseling. Family counseling is often regarded as one of the most beneficial options for families going through a rough patch. Family relationships always present unavoidable issues, which we should learn to solve them on our own. Yes, you can take help from some counseling techniques but don't be dependent on them forever.

The prime goal of any family is that all the members live together in harmony. If you feel that your family is facing some difficulties, hardships and some personal issues, read some of the counseling techniques mentioned below.

Techniques of Family Counseling
Family counseling has become a common sign in recent times. Family counselors are there to help couples and families who are facing some family issues and problems. Therapists and counselors use some common counseling techniques to give you a clear picture of your family background and the issues surrounding them.

Genogram: This technique is often used in early family counseling stages. The genogram is a work of symbols and pictures which depict the whole history of your family. It reveals some of the important details about the three generations of the family through symbols. Important details like names, dates of marriage, divorce, death and other important events related to your family members are included in a genogram. A genogram acts like an informative tool of the family for the therapist.

The Family Floor Plan: This plan has several versions to it. Parents are requested to draw the family tree and information of several past generations are brought and discussed in this meeting. The simple points related to your ancestors brings out meaningful facts related to your past.

Reframing: Reframing simply means taking a sentence out of its logical cause and trying to see other theories related to it. Family guiding counselors use it to understand the basic existing family problems and offering a different perspective to it. For example, a father's repeated questions on his daughter's friendship with boys can be seen as a concern of a loving father than as a generation gap factor which feels that an old man cannot understand the new generation.

Communication Building: Problems in any family start when there is less or no effective communication. Communication patterns and processes are often major reasons that affect family communication. Counselors use a variety of techniques which focus on effective communication building among couples and families. They also provide guidance on the proper use of listening skills which include reflection of feelings, listening and showing compassion to all your fellow members, taking turns in expression of feelings and also be non judgmental when your own people are agreeing to their mistakes.

Family Photos: Seeing photos of family members in different occasions are enough to provide information on what's the present scenario in the family. Verbal responses to different family photos are helpful. This technique involves asking a family member to choose a family picture from the album and discuss the various memories related to that picture.

Empty Chair: The empty chair technique is mostly used by therapists dealing with couples. To explain the empty chair; let's have a look at an example a partner feels that the empty chair is his/her spouse and expresses his/her feelings. The partner then changes his/her role and sits on the empty chair and continues the rest of the conversation enacting the spouse.

Putting the Client in the Center: This technique is widely used by family counselors where the entire control of the situation is given in the hands of the individual. The counselor allows the continuation of a symptom of anxiety or worry and let's the individual talk for a while. As the individual talks, he/she suddenly realizes the depth of the situation and starts to gain control over his/her fears.

So these were some of the family counseling techniques, practiced by counselors and therapists worldwide. Counselors will determine which one to implement as they realize the depth of your family crisis. As every family has its own issues, therapists do not restrict themselves to practice and implement the same set of rules. Therefore a creative judgment call is always appreciated.