Jo Burrows.
Therapy for families, couples and individuals.
The focus of family therapy is to help family members work through problems, illness and relationship difficulties to create change collaboratively.
The approach is one of working in partnership ‘with’ families, not ‘on’ them, to to express and explore difficult thoughts and emotions safely. We aspire to understand each other’s experiences and views, and appreciate each other’s needs. And can then build on strengths to make useful and enduring changes in your relationships and lives.
Recognising the diverse family forms and relationships, beliefs and cultures is an important part of my therapeutic approach.
It is helpful if as many family members as possible attend the first session; however, parts of families can attend. Attendance at sessions depends upon the problem the family wishes to work on and willingness on the part of individuals within a family to attend. Sometimes parents attend sessions without their children and at times sibling groups find sessions by themselves helpful.
Sometimes parts of families attend therapy to work on making changes in their specific relationships i.e. mothers and daughters.
Family therapy is a dynamic process with the aim of changing unhelpful interaction and behavior patterns. Tasks of practical or observational nature that take place between sessions are often an important part of therapy.
Behavioral and emotional problems concerning children and adolescents
Children withdrawing from family life
Mood changes
Self harm
Stealing
Obsessive Behaviour
Depression
Anxiety
Eating disorders
Separation and divorce
Illness & Disability
Psychological or Physical health problems concerning parents, adolescents or children
School attendance issues
Relationship problems between family members
Step family life
Fostering & Adoption
Leaving home issues
Relationship problems between adult children and parents.
Family therapy
A session lasts 50 min approx. The sessions are confidential (unless the therapist has concern for your, or another person’s safety). It is helpful (but not mandatory) for the whole family to attend at least the first session. Parts of families may also attend sessions i.e. Mother & daughter. There is a focus on working as a family group to manage problems; this approach generally brings about more enduring change. Tasks to do between sessions are quite common. Problems are worked on within the context of family relationships.
Problems I work with: negotiating major life cycle events i.e. Separation & Divorce, building new family relationships, bereavement, emotional & behavioral difficulties affecting children, & adolescents, issues concerning adolescence, anxiety, depression, school attendance problems, parenting issues, behavioral problems, eating disorders.