Family is a socio-cultural concept that shapes social life. At the same time, it not only shapes society but also forms the smallest unit of society. It is an institution that individuals who leave different root families create and then grow during their journey that begins with marriage. Every step taken towards the wedding ceremony means the formation of a new union that will include different cultures, understandings, values and views. During the formation phase of this relationship or in the following periods, disagreements, problems that the family must overcome together, and issues that need to be put in order may arise.
Family Counseling service is a professional psychotherapy service that can get help in such situations. So, who is the Family Counselor who provides this service, and who can become a Family Counselor?
“Family Counseling” is a specific profession and field of expertise that requires special training and study. In order to have the title of "Family Counselor", it is necessary to graduate from one of the required undergraduate programs (Psychology, PDR, Sociology, Medicine, Social Work, Nursing, Child Development). Just completing one of the mentioned undergraduate educations is not enough to do "Family Counselling". In order to reach the level of expertise in this field, it is mandatory by family law to obtain a master's degree in the field or receive training from a certificate program. A person who meets these criteria is entitled to receive the title of "Family Counselor" and can work in this field. However, the focus of family counselors is only on the family. The interviews to be held during the counseling process are family-based and include family members. A professional whose area of expertise does not go beyond Family Counseling cannot hold individual therapy meetings or apply treatment techniques and sessions for mental illnesses. If the complaint is a personal problem such as anxiety, depression, or OCD, help should be sought from a psychiatrist or psychologist. Family Counseling does not focus on individuals one by one and considers the family as a whole.
Family Counseling deals with family problems that may develop communicatively and situationally, rather than specific mental health problems. Marriage counseling, communication conflicts within the family, addition of a new member to the family the reflection of events such as marriage, divorce process, cheating or being deceived on family members, cancer of a family member, etc. Situations such as contracting a disease and death/loss in the family are among the main issues that Family Counselors deal with. The duties of the Family Counselor include predicting the domestic destruction that may occur in such situations, showing ways to cope with the problem, giving advice and providing instructions for a healthier family life.
Family institution does not only consist of couples; families that continue their existence in a healthy way over the years grow, develop and mature over time. Of course, new members will join the family during this time, perhaps our children, to whom we will dedicate our lives, will join the established home after a while and become a part of the family. Their mental health is as important to us as their physical health. It is up to parents to help them in both matters and ensure that they complete their development in a healthy way. When parents experience a family problem with their children or when they begin to have difficulties in communicating, they can turn to experts who specialize in Family Counseling. Ultimately, child development and the adolescence period of a family member are sensitive processes that need to be managed well. Getting help from an expert on this subject will be beneficial for the health of the individual and the family.
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