Is Family Counseling A Good Idea?
Posted by: Alan in Alcohol Counseling, tags: Counseling, Family, Good, Idea
My family has been going through a lot of turmoil through the last few years, mainly based around my mother.
My older brother started to abuse alcohol and drugs in his early teens, attempted suicide before leaving middle school, and has been arrested countless times for various, stupid acts.
My younger sister has had one hell of an attitude for as long as I can remember, and gets into frequent spats with all of the members of our family. Her most recent stunt is not coming home at all last night, and not bothering to call. She’s barely 15. She did the same thing earlier this summer, leaving the family to worry sick. She was less than unapologetic both times.
I’m the mostly normal one, besides the fact that I’ve gone untreated for depression since the I was 13 years old, and that I ran away for three days when I was 16. I live with many personal ailments that I’m afraid to bring up to my overbearing, sarcastic, oblivious mother.
My dad takes it all in stride, and uses sensitivity to try to solve things. Bless his heart, the only person he seems to get through to is me. My mom claims that he doesn’t set boundaries, and that’s why we continue to have problems. They are constantly fighting about how to raise us kids, and how we should have raised my brother, who now lives on his own. My mom threatens that she might move out soon, that she cannot stand to live with my dad and his thoughts. I’m 18, and I can’t stand to listen to her immaturity for much longer. I’m at my breaking point, and I would really like to solve this once and for all.
Any advice?
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January 6th, 2010 at 1:06 am
Family counseling is a great idea, but it won’t work unless both of your parents want it. Since you’re 18, i would suggest seeing a doctor on your own for your physical problems. You’re an adult now, if you’re not covered by insurance, you can go to a free clinic on your own.
January 6th, 2010 at 7:29 am
If you are actually considering it already ,then the answer is yes. Counseling is good as even a preventative measure, before anything goes wrong.
But all counselors have different opinions and styles. I don’t know what you believe, but God can help you most of all.
January 6th, 2010 at 9:30 am
Your answer is God and the Bible.
28″Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 3
January 6th, 2010 at 9:45 am
No.
They will recommend three things: drugs, divorce, and abandonment of the family, none of which will solve your problems.
January 6th, 2010 at 10:30 am
Counseling is definitely a good idea. Having an unbiased outsider come in and mediate for you guys would be very helpful.
January 6th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
Its a great Idea. Look for a place that does teen counseling, they will have the BEST family counseling.
January 6th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
by all means get a family therapist
good luck
January 6th, 2010 at 10:55 pm
Well it sounds like maybe it’s time for your mom to move out. My parents went through this and I was your age. I moved out right after that to save my sanity. Look here’s the thing children don’t come with an instruction manual so no one is ever really right in how to raise them. My mom went in the direction your is right now and i’m now 25 and nothing has changed. So you might was to bring up talking to someone but I really don’t think it would help. But good luck!
January 7th, 2010 at 3:58 am
wow… that sounds crazy, i think you should seek a family conselor maybe they can help resolve your problems. i think that you should enforce the rules on your sister and show her what life could be like without anyone there to help or support her, cause the way she’s acting now could lead to trouble in the long run. i hope you can find a way to help your family. good luck
January 7th, 2010 at 6:22 am
Alrighty, sounds like a pretty normal family to me. Sucks, I know, but it all seems pretty normal.
But who would be going to this family counseling? You, your mom, dad and sister?
I can tell you know, just from what you’ve written, doesn’t sound like it’ll work. I mean, yeah, in theory it’s a good idea. Couldn’t hurt to bring it up and see what they all have to say about it. BUT… I don’t think your sister will want to go, and from the sounds of it your mom will try and prove herself right. You know what I mean?
I mean, it’s a good idea, but it honestly probly wont work. Counseling usually doesn’t work unless EVERYONE actually wants it to.
January 7th, 2010 at 7:16 am
It sounds like youve been through alot lately. I would consider counciling but would your little sister want to sit and listen to a counselor. But yes i think it could help to get all of your feelings out in the open and so everyone knows how each other are feeling, its worth a go if you dont try it youll never know.
January 7th, 2010 at 7:48 am
Well for your brother he needs to come to his sence but it wont happen alone. Drugs and achol and a very hard thing to stop[trust me i know]. Mainly because the fear of quiting. Your sister will wake up one day and grow up and relize that life is too short to do stupid stuff like she is. But as for you. You are 18, if you dont like it there get out. There is nothing left there for you to do than to watch everyone distruct. And thats never a pretty thing to watch, even more so if you are untreated for depression. The only thign i can really say is it may be stormy now, but it cant rain forever. it will get better.