5 Reasons Why Family Counseling Benefits Families

No family is perfect. Throughout Scripture, the Bible highlights many families. None of them are examples of normal, functioning families. All of them have a high level of dysfunction. Family sin patterns, wounds, and other issues plague each family. These issues got passed down from generation to generation, making family counseling a viable choice for treatment.

In the same way, the family unit is composed of generations. There may be a family sin pattern such as alcoholism, or other drug-related disease that started two generations back and was never resolved. A parent or child may suffer from this issue without understanding why. Family counseling can be a great benefit to every family. Here are five reasons why:

Counseling sees things from a different perspective

Every family member has their own perspective on an issue. For example, if there is conflict in a family, each member believes the other is at fault. However, a third party will help them see the issue from a perspective they have not seen before.

A counselor can help each family member see their part in the situation, take responsibility, and own their part in the turmoil, and then forgive themselves for other parts for which they have no control. A third-party counselor has no vested interest in the issue. Therefore, they are the best ones to see every issue from every perspective without taking sides.

It helps with forgiveness

More than likely, a family in conflict needs some level of forgiveness. Each party must take responsibility for their part in the current situation. When each family member takes ownership of their part in the conflict, it becomes easier to extend or ask for forgiveness from each family member.

Forgiveness is vital because it helps rebuild the family unit. When people ask for forgiveness, trust can be rebuilt. When forgiveness is not offered, it makes people feel devalued as if they don’t matter to the other person. However, when people get into a situation where they need to extend or ask for forgiveness from each other, the work of rebuilding the relationship can begin.

Clients discuss deep feelings

It may be difficult for children to express themselves to their parents. However, a counselor can mediate the conflict so that each party gets a chance to express themselves freely. In a counselor’s office, there is no punishment for expressing themselves. If the child feels upset or angry, they can express it openly to their parents without fear of judgment or punishment. A counselor can ask open-ended questions where a child can be prompted to express themselves.

Although parents may not have these skills, a counselor can ask pointed questions that will help get to the root of the issue. A counselor may also ask questions that will help a child express their feelings, which they may not feel comfortable doing at home.

Clients can forget the past

The past is often what’s holding a family back from moving forward. A counselor can help resolve any issues that may have become behavior patterns. For example, a parent may be emulating their parents in their discipline methods. A counselor can help them think through new ways of discipline that build strong bonds between parent and child while allowing them to resolve the past.

The past is meant to be remembered so we can learn from our mistakes. However, when people are wracked with guilt, anger, or unforgiveness, it is easy to get stuck in the past. Counselors can help family members move from the past and look forward to a healthy future.

Family counseling can look forward

Sometimes families focus only on what’s happened in the past. A family unit can get stuck in past issues and cycles that are difficult to remove in their lives. However, a counselor can help them move from the past and look forward to a healthy future as a family. Even if a child is estranged or has lost contact with a family member, a counselor can help the family as a unit move forward in unity and rebuild the health of their relationships.

Getting started with Christian family counseling

Counseling no longer holds the stigma it once did. Families who want to build healthy, enriching relationships can benefit from a counseling session at Texas Christian Counseling. Finding a local counselor in Texas can help get to the root of your family’s issues and achieve solutions so your family can move toward unity and health. Contact our office at Texas Christian Counseling today to learn more.