Systemic Family Therapy for Families and Individuals: FAQs
Family life with children and teenagers can be full of love — and full of tension. It’s not unusual for families to find themselves stuck in patterns of arguing, silence, or simply not knowing how to talk to each other anymore.
Therapy involves listening to everyone’s voice — even those who do not yet want to come. Sessions are designed to explore ideas that each family member holds and to speak about what they find difficult. Family therapy doesn’t try to make everyone think the same. It offers a chance to hear everyone’s voice, whether they attend the session or not. Exploring different views, emotions, and expectations with thoughtfulness can help everyone understand not just the words, but what might be felt underneath them.
How Does Systemic Family Therapy Work with Children and Teenagers?
Systemic therapy creates a space for all family members — even the reluctant ones — to feel heard and considered. It helps reveal what’s being communicated beyond words and supports emotional connection through curiosity and understanding.
Will the Whole Family Need to Attend Every Session?
Not necessarily. Sessions may include the whole family or just smaller groups or individuals, depending on what best supports your goals. Session configurations are flexible and generally last fifty minutes.
How Can Family Therapy Help Us?
Rather than focusing on who is right or wrong, family therapy looks at how your relationships are working — the things that are happening and their effects, and the ways you’re all trying to cope. It helps families notice what’s getting in the way of understanding each other, so people feel more connected. It gently supports change in how you talk, listen, and respond to one another — helping you decide what to keep and what to change.
Systemic Therapy for Individuals
How Will Systemic Therapy Help Me as an Individual?
Systemic family therapy can be very helpful for individuals — especially if the difficulties you’re facing feel tied up in your relationships, past or present. The focus is not just on what is happening, but also on how your experiences have been shaped in connection with others — family, school, friendships, partners, communities, and culture.
How Can Systemic Therapy Help When Issues Relate to Family or Relationships?
Even in individual sessions, we consider how your relationships and family history influence your experience. This helps you shift unhelpful responses and thinking into more preferred ways of responding. It’s a chance to look at the bigger picture and to ask: What story have I been living in? And is that the story I want to keep living?
How Long Does Individual Systemic Therapy Usually Last?
It depends on your needs. Some people find clarity in a few sessions; others benefit from ongoing weekly work. Session duration is fifty minutes.
General Questions
Do You Offer Online Therapy?
At this time, I offer only in-person sessions, as I believe the physical presence and shared space of the therapy room creates a depth and connection that’s harder to replicate online. Sessions take place in Marylebone (London W1) or Swanbourne (Buckinghamshire), in quiet, private consulting spaces.
Do You Accept Health Insurance or Private Medical Cover?
I don’t currently work with insurance companies or offer therapy through third-party providers. I offer therapy privately, which means you can access support without restrictions on session length, number, or frequency — and we can shape the work according to your needs, not an external framework.
Next Steps
Systemic family therapy offers a flexible, compassionate, and collaborative way to explore the challenges and connections that shape our lives. Whether you're attending as a couple, a family, or an individual, this approach centres on relationships — not just between people, but between experiences, beliefs, and emotions.
Therapy doesn’t offer ready-made answers, but it does offer a space to ask better questions — ones that help you make sense of your story and consider what changes might feel possible.
If you're interested in finding out more, I’d be happy to talk with you about what might be helpful for your unique situation. Please feel welcome to get in touch with any questions or to arrange an initial session. There's always space to think differently about your story — no matter where you are in it.
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