Ken has extensive experience working with families, particularly those experiencing parent-adolescent conflict. Recognizing that all family members are impacted, specific tools for family communication, problem solving and negotiation are incorporated in the counselling plan. Working to gain everyone’s commitment to change sometimes requires a flexible approach, including the possibility of individual, couple or full family sessions. Regardless, the counselling process is geared toward understanding everyone’s concerns and creating a calm, settled and healthy family environment.
Issues that are frequently addressed in family counselling include:
- Parent-adolescent conflict
- Sibling issues
- Blended family concerns
- Parenting styles
- Grief/loss
- Transitional adjustment issues (e.g., family re-location)
- Substance abuse
- Health and developmental concerns
Specialized approaches for children
For preschool and school age children, a hands-on experiential approach is required, such as the use of family play-therapy strategies. Ken has extensive experience in this approach as well as other models of intervention based on sound parenting and attachment-based principles, such as Filial Therapy and Theraplay.
