Although not everyone in Australia needs a therapist, the Perth therapists at the Energetics Institute want everyone to be aware of the resources available to them. Knowing that they have the option of professional family therapy, Perth residents will be more confident in seeking support for themselves and their loved ones.

1. All You Need to Know
About Family Therapy
www.energeticsinstitute.com.au/family-therapy-perth

2. WHAT IS FAMILY THERAPY?
Almost anyone who has a mental illness sees its effects on and
from their family members.
 family conflicts provoke stress and can exacerbate mental
disorders
 family members can enable harmful behaviour patterns
 individuals with mental disorders might seek (or reject) support
from family
 family experiences shape the way people view their world
Family therapy is a branch of counselling that treats mental
disorders and mental health not simply as an individual issue but
in the context of the whole family.

3. TYPES OF FAMILY THERAPY
There are many different ways to help
families cope with mental illness,
handle everyday stress and achieve
stronger relationships and mental
well-being. Family therapists use
various techniques, either alone or in
combination, to heal family rifts, help
families cope, and provide a more
robust family support structure for
people with mental illness.

4. PSYCHO-EDUCATION
Psychoeducation uses teaching to help family members address mental
health issues more constructively. Family members often misunderstand the
nature of their loved ones’ mental conditions, which can lead to:
 ostracism
 blame
 manipulative behaviour
 frustration
 low self-worth
Suppose a family therapist finds that the family’s understanding of mental
illness does not match our current scientific view of mental illness. In that
case, they might create structured interventions to teach family members how
to cope with and respond to mental illness in more productive ways.

5. TEACHING COPING SKILLS
A significant source of stress
and trigger for negative family
interactions is a feeling of
frustration or helplessness in
the face of a mental health
issue. Consider a child who has
a learning disability or behaviour
disorder. Parents might lash out
at the child, or vice-versa
because neither the child nor
the parents know any better
ways to deal with the issue.

6. BEHAVIOURAL MODELS
Different approaches to family therapy
draw upon different conceptual
frameworks in their approach to family
therapy. For example, some
approaches might focus more on
family members’ thoughts, beliefs, and
understanding. In contrast, other
models focus on positive and negative
behaviours that clients and family
members exhibit when they interact
with one another.

7. SYSTEMIC MODELS
Systemic models in family therapy
focus on how the different family
members relate to each other. In
systemic family therapy, the
therapist strives to be a neutral
mediator between family members,
helping to guide the family as a
whole toward a more positive and
productive dynamic.

8. STRUCTURAL FAMILY THERAPY
Structural Family Therapy aims to
create, reinforce, and develop
structures within the family that
promote healthy development and
interaction. In comparison with
systemic family therapy, the
therapist plays a more active than
a facilitative role in structural
family therapy. The therapist
teaches family members to
respect boundaries and ensures
that every family member has a
voice and a constructive role
within the family structure.

9. POST MILAN FAMILY THERAPY
The post-Milan approach to
family therapy developed as an
outgrowth of the Milan school. It
adopts a more postmodern
approach. Rather than directly
question the family and provoke
change through questioning, a
post-Milan family therapist will try
to help the family develop its own
questions and formulate its own
ideas about how the family
works.

10. SOLUTION-FOCUSED THERAPY
Other therapies focus on the behavioural
symptoms of family conflict and mental
illness or promote structures of family
organization that nurture positive family
dynamics. Solution-focused therapy does
not dwell on the causes of problems but
adopts a hopeful attitude and focuses on
the future.

11. WHEN IS FAMILY THERAPY
REQUIRED?
It is an excellent idea to pursue family
therapy if family relationships play an
essential role in the manifestation and
treatment of mental illness and the
achievement of long-term psychological
well-being. The active involvement of
the family is vital in family therapy, so it
is important to encourage family
members to be open to the concept
before starting a course of family
therapy.

12. Contact Us...
For the best family counseling services in Perth you
can contact us at:
82 Tenth Ave Inglewood WA 6052
Phone: 0414 897024
Website:
https://www.energeticsinstitute.com.au/fami
ly-therapy-perth/