The family is the place where we learn how to be social. The patterns we develop in our family shape ourselves, how we experience the world and our relationships.

Family therapy involves the family in solving mental health problems. Disorders that appear to affect only a single family member are often rooted in or exacerbated by conflicts within the family. A family therapist helps to identify these conflicts and to find new solutions.

Especially with children and young people it is important to involve the family in therapy. The family has a major influence on their psychological development. Mental disorders in children and adolescents can have their roots in the family system. However, the goal is not to blame the family for problems, but rather to recognize unfavorable interactions and seek new solutions.

Family therapy can also be helpful if changes in the family system create problems. For example, a family therapist can support a family during a parental divorce or death, or when a new partner joins the family after a separation.

In addition, patients with depression, bipolar disorder or anxiety disorders can benefit from family therapy.

As a family therapist, I am interested in the situation and feelings of each family member. I am non-partisan, i.e. I empathize with each family member without favoring any one person. This approach allows each family members to contribute their perspective and express their needs.

At the beginning of therapy, the focus is on building a trusting relationship. For most families, it is an unusual situation to reflect on their very private family communication and dynamics with someone else.

As we continue, we will observe together the communication between the family members. Misunderstandings can arise because needs are not clearly expressed or because of experiences of rejection. The goal of therapy is to improve communication and thus the quality of relationships within the family.

How individual family members perceive and evaluate the situation and the other family members plays an important role. I use various techniques to encourage you to question your observations and adopt different perspectives. Through new viewpoints, the family can resolve entrenched problems together.

A family therapy session lasts 80 minutes. You can choose the frequency of the sessions; it usually varies from once a week to every few weeks. The length of therapy can vary greatly; family therapy requires an average of six to 20 sessions.