Family therapy can be helpful for families of all shapes and sizes. You might be experiencing difficulties between parents and children, siblings, or other important relationships within your family.

Families may come to therapy following a significant change, separation, loss or difficult experience. Others may simply feel that things have become stuck and they aren't sure how to move forward.

You don't need to have everything worked out before coming. We can start with where you are.

Not necessarily. Sometimes it is helpful for the whole family to be together. At other times, it may be more appropriate for some family members to attend, or for there to be a combination of family and individual sessions.

We can think together about what would feel most helpful for your family. There is no one way of doing family therapy.

They don't have to. Talking isn't the only way we communicate, particularly for children and young people.

Through play, drawing, making, storytelling and other creative approaches, there can be different ways to express thoughts and feelings that might otherwise be difficult to put into words.

We can take our time and find a way of working that feels comfortable and meaningful for them.

Play and arts can be used alongside talking to help children, young people and families explore feelings, experiences and relationships.

This might include drawing, painting, making, imaginative play, storytelling, games, using objects or creating things together.

There is no need to be artistic or "good" at anything.

The creative work isn't about producing something perfect. It is another way of communicating, exploring and making sense of what is happening.

I don't believe that a drawing or piece of play has one fixed meaning. Instead, I am interested in becoming curious about what it means to the person who has created or played it.

We might explore what they notice, what the experience was like for them and whether it connects with something happening in their life or relationships. The meaning belongs to them.

No. Play and arts can offer something to family members of all ages.

Creating or playing together can sometimes help adults and children experience one another differently and provide a different starting point for conversations.

You don't have to be "creative" to take part. Sometimes the simplest activity can open up something important.

Family therapy is not about expecting everyone to agree. Disagreements can be part of family life, and they can sometimes help us understand the patterns that have developed between people.

If difficult moments happen in a session, we can slow things down and become curious about what is happening.

The aim is to create enough safety for everyone to feel heard and respected.

No.

Family therapy isn't about deciding who is right.

Each person may experience the same situation very differently, and those different experiences are important.

My role is to remain curious about each person's perspective and help create space for everyone to be heard.

The first session is an opportunity for us to begin getting to know one another.

We'll talk about what has brought you to therapy, what has been happening within your family and what you might hope could be different.

Depending on the age and needs of your family, we may talk, play, create or simply spend some time getting comfortable in the space.

There is no expectation that you will arrive knowing exactly what you need.

We can discover that together.

Every family is different, so there isn't a set number of sessions.

Some families may find that a small number of sessions provides the space they need. Others may benefit from longer-term support.

We can regularly think together about how therapy is going and whether it continues to feel helpful.

Sessions are usually arranged regularly to give us some continuity and space to reflect between sessions.

The frequency will depend on your family's needs and circumstances.

We can talk about what feels manageable and appropriate when we begin.

That's okay. Perhaps it wasn't the right time, the approach didn't feel right, or you found it difficult to engage.

Every therapeutic relationship is different.

You are welcome to talk about previous experiences and what you would like to be different this time. There is no judgement.

No. You may have a very clear sense of what is happening, or you may simply know that something doesn't feel right.

You might be struggling with communication, noticing changes in your child's behaviour, feeling disconnected from one another, or finding that the same difficulties keep coming up.

You don't need to have the answers before we begin. We can start with curiosity and see what emerges.

That is completely understandable. Talking about family relationships can feel vulnerable, particularly when things have been difficult for some time.

The first step doesn't need to be a commitment to therapy.

It can simply be a conversation about what is happening and an opportunity to see whether working together feels right.

We can take it slowly, at a pace that feels manageable for you and your family.

Confidentiality is an important part of creating a safe therapeutic space.

At the beginning of our work, we will talk about confidentiality and how this works when working with children and young people.

There are some circumstances where confidentiality may need to be broken, particularly where there are concerns about someone's safety or wellbeing. I will always aim to talk about this openly and sensitively.