It’s rare to find a family that doesn’t go through rough patches. But if those rough patches persist, they can be challenging to overcome without the help of professional family counselling.
Many family counselling benefits make it a service worth the cost and time investment. However, not everybody can tell when their family problems are temporary and when they signify a serious issue.
Below are the seven most significant signs that your family could benefit from counselling and how a counsellor can address those issues.
Overwhelming Emotional Outbursts
Anger and moments of sadness are all parts of the human experience, and in isolated incidents, shouldn’t be anything to worry about when it comes to scheduling counselling. However, you should take repeated emotional outbursts seriously, especially those stemming from seemingly minor issues.
Bouts of anger, sadness, and crying are telltale signs of emotional distress. Again, everyone has bad days, and these emotions will come out once in a while, even without a significant underlying issue. But when your partner or child is having regular outbursts, you should attempt to communicate with them and discover what they are going through.
Your family member’s distress could be tied to issues at work or school but could also indicate deep-rooted family trouble. One of the most significant family counselling benefits is that your counsellor will encourage your family to express their hidden issues. Not only that, but your counsellor will also teach you communication methods that will make your relatives more willing to be honest with you when problems come up in the future.
Lack of Communication or Emotional Distance
Your family members will have their secrets, especially growing children who want to express their individuality. Still, honest and regular communication is essential for a functioning family. If that communication stalls or ceases altogether, it’s a clear indicator that something is wrong in the family dynamic.
Romantic partners and children should be your closest allies. But if they don’t want to talk to you about anything or respond to questions in short answers, your relationship might not be as close as it should be. Similarly, if your family members are withdrawing to their rooms regularly or are physically present but not participating in the group dynamic, there could be hidden family problems.
Pay close attention the next time one of your family members shows any changes in behaviour. If they dodge your concerns about their well-being, you might need the help of a family counsellor to get everyone on the same page.
Sickness, Fatigue, or Loss of Appetite
Mental health problems have as many physical effects as emotional and behavioural ones. And if a family member is experiencing mental illness, they might show it through constant fatigue, loss of appetite, or symptoms of a physical virus even while uninfected.
Depression and related mental illnesses are more extreme than ordinary sadness. So, if your family members are exhibiting any of the physical signs of a mental health problem, you should treat it quickly. A family therapist can help you and your affected relative get to the root of their mental issues and resolve them as a family unit.
Shared Family Trauma
Deaths in the family, or tragedies on a similar level, are challenging obstacles many families struggle to overcome.
Everybody copes with grief and hardship differently. Some of your family members might withdraw and reject all sympathy, while others might need aid from their emotionally reserved relatives to overcome their sadness. As a result, your family might grieve for months since they aren’t getting the support they need.
One of the most significant family counselling benefits following a tragic event is that counsellors provide coping resources and techniques that work for everyone, regardless of personality. So, if your family is struggling to overcome hardship on their own, family counselling can help.
If your family has recently lost a loved one and is trying to pick up the pieces, schedule an appointment with the best family counsellor in Perth for help through the grieving process.
Apathy Toward Date Nights or Bonding Time
Date nights for romantic couples and fun bonding activities for children and parents are events that are supposed to be exciting. And if your family has a history of enjoying such outings and are now apathetic towards them, it might be a sign of an undiagnosed mental health issue.
People with depression often lose interest in activities that used to excite them. And not only will disconnecting from those activities allow the depression to persist, but it will also sever the bond between them and the people they associate with those activities.
If your family is growing apart because of apathy towards experiences you used to love, it might be a sign that you need a family counsellor.
Increased Substance Usage
Substance abuse is a significant warning sign that someone is in distress. But when a family member is abusing drugs and alcohol, it’s more than a stressor for the individual; it’s a stressor for the entire family.
Substance abuse leads to physical and mental health problems that can cause concerned family members to worry about the health of their loved ones. Therefore, it is essential to monitor your family members carefully if you notice an increase in substance usage and reach out for help.
If they continue to abuse alcohol and drugs to cope with distress, you should consider receiving support from a family counsellor.
Poor Performance in School For Children
Children struggling through mental health problems or lingering family issues might begin to lose their focus and temper. As a result, your child’s grades might drop, and their angry interactions with teachers and classmates might increase.
Poor performance in school is often a sign that your child needs help from a counsellor. Whether their drop in grades is a recent issue or a lifelong struggle, a family counsellor can get to the bottom of what is causing their poor production and give them the tools to correct it.
