Family Therapy
What Is Family Therapy?
Family therapy is a structured type of counselling where two or more members of a household work with a therapist together, rather than one person attending alone. Instead of treating a single "problem person," the therapist looks at the whole family system: the roles everyone plays, the patterns that keep conflict going, and what needs to shift so the household can function better as a unit. At Anchored Therapy Centre, sessions are led by a Registered Psychotherapist trained in family systems work, available in person at our Georgetown/Milton and Mississauga offices or virtually across Ontario.
Who Can Benefit?
This isn't only for families in crisis. It helps households going through a specific rough patch, like a divorce or a new blended family, as well as families who function fine day to day but want better tools for communication and conflict before small issues turn into bigger ones. It can involve two people (a parent and one child) or the whole household, depending on what's actually going on.
Issues We Treat
Parent-Child Conflict
"My teenager won't talk to me anymore" is one of the most common reasons families reach out. A therapist helps both sides understand what's driving the shutdown, whether it's control, independence, or something deeper, and rebuilds a way to talk that doesn't end in a fight. Where the conflict is really centred on one teen's individual struggles, we may recommend pairing this with teen therapy.
Blended Family Adjustment
Merging two households rarely goes smoothly right away. New step-siblings, a new parenting figure, different house rules — it all takes time to settle. Sessions focus on building shared expectations and giving every member, especially kids who didn't choose this change, a voice in how the new family works.
Divorce & Separation
Divorce changes how a family communicates, even when both parents are doing their best. Family therapy gives kids a space to process the change without being caught in the middle, and helps parents build a working co-parenting relationship focused on the kids rather than the breakup itself.
Family Trauma
A serious illness, a loss, an accident, or an experience of abuse can affect an entire household differently, not just the person it happened to. Therapy helps the family understand each other's individual responses to the same event and rebuild a sense of safety together.
Estrangement & Reconnection
Some families come to therapy after years of distance, ready to try rebuilding a relationship that broke down. This work moves slowly, and only at the pace both sides can handle, with the therapist helping structure conversations that would likely go sideways without support.
Our Approach
Our therapists draw on Structural Family Therapy to map out family roles and boundaries, and Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) to work through the emotional patterns underneath repeated arguments. Which approach we use depends on your family's specific situation.
What to Expect in a Session
A first session usually opens with the whole family in the room so the therapist can hear from everyone before deciding how future sessions should be structured. Some families meet together every time; others split time between full sessions and one-on-one check-ins with individual members. Sessions run 50 minutes and typically happen weekly or biweekly.
Confidentiality works a little differently than in individual counselling. What's said in a group session stays among the family members present, but a therapist won't repeat what came up in a private one-on-one check-in back to the group without that person's consent, unless there's a safety concern. Your therapist will walk through exactly how this works before you begin.
Who You'll Work With
You can view full bios and current availability on our team
Fees & Insurance
Sessions run 50 minutes, with fees varying by therapist based on credentials and experience. Most extended health plans in Ontario cover sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist, which is the designation our therapists hold, and we provide receipts you can submit directly. For full pricing and payment details, you can check out our FAQs.
What Families Say
"We started family therapy right after the divorce was finalized. The sessions gave our kids a place to say things they hadn't said to either of us directly." — Parent of two, Mississauga
"Our therapist didn't take sides. That's what made it work. We left every session with something specific to try differently that week." — Parent of three, Georgetown
FAQs
Do all family members have to attend?
Not always. Sessions often start with everyone in the room so the therapist can understand the full picture, but they can shift to include only the members most involved in a specific issue as treatment progresses.
How long does family therapy take?
Most families start with 8 to 10 sessions and reassess from there. Issues tied to a single transition tend to resolve faster than longstanding conflict or trauma.
Is family therapy covered by insurance in Ontario?
Many extended health plans cover sessions with a Registered Psychotherapist. Coverage and session limits vary by provider, so check your plan directly, or visit our FAQs for more on payment and receipts.
What age of children can attend?
There's no strict minimum. Younger children are usually included when an issue directly involves them, such as a major transition or sibling conflict. For a teen whose struggle is more individual, teen therapy may be a better starting point.
Is what we discuss in sessions confidential?
Group sessions are shared among the family members present. Anything said one-on-one with the therapist during an individual check-in stays private unless there's a safety concern, and your therapist explains this before you begin.
Can family therapy help with divorce?
Yes. Many families come to us during or after a divorce to help kids process the change and to rebuild a working co-parenting relationship.