Family Supports For You Or Loved Ones

Challenges related to mental illness are a family affair and it is not uncommon for more than one member of a family system to require help. As well, what is helpful for a loved one who is struggling is not always intuitive or obvious. We have created a variety of services to help families navigate these challenges.

Therapy for a Client’s Loved Ones

Therapy support for client's loved ones is aimed at providing a safe setting for loved ones to explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences related to supporting someone with mental health difficulties.

Family Accommodation Therapy

Family Accommodations Therapy involves both the client and their loved one(s). Loved one’s learn how to be supportive and which strategies will empower (vs unintentionally enable) a client's difficulties long-term

Couples Therapy

Couples Therapy is aimed at supporting each partner to improve their shared dynamic, communication & establish deeper intimacy.

The Importance of Connection and Relationships

Relationships are an integral part of an individual’s well-being and essential for our emotional, social, and physical well-being. Cultivating and nurturing positive connections with others enriches our lives and contributes to our overall happiness and fulfillment.

Mutual Compassion and Understanding

All Family-based Supports Therapies available at OICBT are aimed at increasing connection and mutual compassion with those most important to you. In addition to learning practical strategies, the goal is to create a nurturing environment where individuals can find solace, understanding, and guidance as they navigate their respective well-being, their role in dynamics, as well as strengthen relationships. A deeper understanding of loved one’s experiences and challenges is key to healthy environments and support systems.

Family-Supports Therapy

Mental health impacts both clients and those who care about them, highlighting the importance of access to resources, education, and support for both the individual and their loved ones.

Whether individual therapy for loved ones of clients, family accommodations (both the client and loved ones), or couples therapy, the aim is to foster mutual compassion and support as each of you face the complexities of mental health and/or relationship dynamics together.

Therapy Supports for Client’s Loved Ones: one-on-one setting and safe space for loved ones to explore their feelings, concerns, and coping strategies related to their role as a supporter. This form of therapy aims to provide education, validation, coping strategies, and a supportive environment to help individuals navigate the complexities of their experience, manage stress, and learn to effectively prioritizing their own well-being.

Family Accommodations Therapy: Involves clients and their loved ones in session. This form of therapy is aimed at empowering and learning strategies to help and encourage the client to thrive. Loved ones are gently taught how to differentiate strategies that are helpful long-term vs those that may have short-term benefits but inadvertently enable unhelpful behaviors or circumstances. This form of therapy can include education about mental health, communication skills, healthy emotional support and boundaries within dynamics, implementing problem-solving skills and practical coping strategies.

Couples Therapy: focuses on improving romantic relationships by fostering healthy communication and conflict resolution, identifying patterns and triggers, building emotional awareness and connection, creating secure bonds and increasing relationship satisfaction. It involves both partners attending therapy sessions with aims of exploring their relationship dynamics, identifying areas of concern, and developing strategies to address these. Couples Therapy can be beneficial at any stage of their relationship, whether they are experiencing specific issues or simply want to strengthen their bonds and communication. At the OICBT, an Emotionally-Focused Therapy approach is integrated into Couples Therapy. Couples therapy is not just about resolving current issues; it also focuses on empowering continued growth and maintenance of the relationship.

Frequently Asked Questions: Family Supports

Understanding the difference between services can feel overwhelming. We are here to help! Please keep reading to see our answers to some common questions about our Family Supports Services

Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT) is an evidence-based approach to couples therapy that focuses on strengthening emotional bonds and attachment between partners.

Therapy support for a client’s loved ones is focused on the loved one’s experience and wellness whereas family accommodations therapy is focused on how loved ones can support a client in their journey to wellness.

Family accommodations therapy is focused on how loved ones can support a client in their journey to wellness whereas Couples Therapy treats problems or goals within the context of the couple system and each individual’s role in the dynamic.

Family accommodations therapy is focused on how loved ones can support a client in their journey to wellness whereas family therapy views problems within the context of the family system (versus solely on individual members).