Family Counseling in Canada

Canadians are resilient people with strong family values. The divorce rate in Canada is lower than it is in the United States. However, Canadians live in some tough winter conditions, and mental unhealthiness is abundant in Canada. This contributes to crisis situations within families. Canadian family crisis situations may involve domestic violence, mental disorders, addiction or substance abuse, money issues, relationship infidelity, divorce or separation, criminal activity or a death within the family. These crisis’ are observed around the world within family units, but in Canada they can be unique in subtle ways. For instance, Canadians are statistically within their home environments for greater amounts of time during winter, so the health of their home environment can have a greater impact on them than in other parts of the world.

When family situations become trying, families should be aware that counseling is available to them. Counseling services for families in Canada are abundant. There are both private and public counselors available to people in Canada, although there are far more private counselors than there are public because counseling is a viable business. However, professional counselors and psychologists are highly educated individuals who are worth their price tag. The average family that receives counseling together after going through adverse circumstances reduces the impact of the adversity proportionately. A professional counselor assists a family in crisis by intervening into their dysfunction, assessing the underlying cause of their problems, repairing the damaged connections between family members by teaching them how to work through problems in a healthy manner and overseeing their recovery as a family unit.

Canadian families suffer from the same family crisis’ that all other Westernized countries suffer from. In many respects, family problems are universal, but the cultures we exist within have a heavy impact on our family lives. Problems of narcissism, self-focus, mental illness, impulse control problems and addiction affect Canadian families in a negative way. Seldom are family members looking to hurt one another. Usually they are ignorant of how their choices and behaviors are affecting their families, or of how they can change themselves. With the help of a professional counselor, families can move toward recovery together.