Family difficulties

Our psychologists and psychotherapists support families who are experiencing difficulties. We can provide support in the home setting, education settings and the community.

What are family difficulties?

Family difficulties can occur due to different reasons and can have an effect on the wellbeing of family members. Some family difficulties may be due to:

• Divorce or separation
• Financial stress
• Addiction in the family
• Abuse in the family
• Move of family location
• Attachment difficulties

Family difficulties can have an effect on the mental and emotional wellbeing of children and young people. For example, if a family difficulty leads to an increase in arguments, this can affect children and young people in the household. Some of the indicators that family difficulties are affecting an individual include:

• Feelings of sadness or anger
• An increase in aggressive outbursts
• Sleeping and eating difficulties
• Reduced concentration in school
• Showing anxious behaviours e.g. fidgeting, crying
• Low mood
• Social withdrawal
• An unusual drop in progress at school

Identifying and addressing needs early supports families by reducing this impact on their lives. 

How do we assess needs around family difficulties?

Needs in relation to family difficulties can be assessed through a combination of the following approaches:

Social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) assessment

A SEMH assessment will assess the individual’s ability to recognise and address their emotions. Also, a SEMH assessment will highlight any mental health difficulties which can then be addressed. 

Observations

A child or young person may be observed in the home, community or even in school. Observations allow our specialists to see how the individual behaves in their day-to-day life, whilst gathering essential information about the best ways to support the child or young person.

Clinical interviews 

Clinical interviews involve discussions between our specialists and relevant people who care for the individual e.g. teacher, parent.

A full history as well as an assessment is important in assessing needs around family difficulties as it provides a well-rounded view of the families situation. By understanding a family's needs in detail, we can provide flexible interventions which mould around the families unique dynamic.