Family Therapy in London

A family is an interconnected system. And if one part isn't working, then the whole system can suffer or start to break down. 

This is where family therapy comes in. A therapy for adults and children, it is as useful for facing difficulties as it is for simply checking in with each other and keeping relationships on track. 

What is family therapy?

Family therapy helps to identify the negative interactions and patterns that can emerge within your family, and works to de-escalate them. It then focuses on building positive communication between you, so you can together find new ways to solve issues you are facing. 

Note that sessions are not about finding who is at fault or to blame for what is not working. While family therapy can help deal with an issue that belongs to one member of your family, individual issues are not the central focus. Your family unit itself is, and the relationships you have with each other within it.  

How your family can benefit from therapy

• develop more understanding between family members
• learn constructive over destructive communication skills 
• recognise each other's needs and viewpoints
• practice effective emotional support
• grow coping skills to better handle problems that arise
• face challenges together, including illness or bereavement.

Help your family's wellbeing today

Time to start helping instead of hurting each other? Expert family therapist Stefan Walters is a member of the Association for Family Therapy (AFT). As well as systemic family therapy, he is one of the few counselling psychologists in the UK able to offer emotionally-focused therapy (EFT) for families. 

To enquire about working with Stefan Walters or another therapist on our team, call us today or fill in our online request form.  

What issues can family therapy help with? 

• separation and divorce
• couple issues
• child behavioural difficulties
• difficulties during adolescence 
• parenting challenges
• illness and bereavement
• fostering, adoption, blended families
• multigenerational households 
• life changes like retirement or job changes. 

What if not everyone wants to attend sessions or can't get there?

While ideal for as many family members to attend sessions as possible, you can still make a start with those members that are willing to participate. We also offer online family therapy, which can make it easier for distant or busy family members to join in and contribute to the healing process, creating a more inclusive and accessible environment for everyone involved.

Family therapy at Harley Therapy™ with Stefan Walters

Stefan Walters is a systemic counselling psychologist specialising in working with couples and families, and is a member of the Association for Family Therapy (AFT). He focuses on creating a safe, non-judgemental environment for you and your family to work through cycles of negative interactions and bring your relationships to a more secure, attached, and less conflicted place. From there resources and strengths can be recognised and built on.

As one of only a handful of counsellors in the UK certified to offer emotionally focused therapy (EFT), he offers this empirically-proven approach to help you better manage emotional experiences and create lasting change within your relationships.

Stefan has extensive experience with across a diverse set of issues, including abusive and dysfunctional relationships, infidelity, divorce, and sexual addictions and compulsivity. He also has specialised training in dealing with bereavement and grief, and in working with children and youth. Previously a counsellor for children who have lost a close family member, he also facilitated groups for adolescents dealing with bullying and other youth issues.

Senstive to diverse family groupings as well as different beliefs and cultures, Stefan is fluent in Finnish and can also carry out sessions in French and German.

Family therapy at Harley Therapy™ with Philippa Donald

Philippa is a highly experienced psychotherapist and counsellor, registered with UKCP, who specialises in providing family therapy. With over 20 years of clinical and teaching experience, she excels in creating a supportive and understanding environment for families to address their challenges.

Her diverse skillset, including psychodynamic, transpersonal, and systemic psychotherapy, as well as non-violent resistance, solution-focused therapies, and narrative work, enables Philippa to adapt her approach to meet the unique needs of each family. She works collaboratively with families to help them overcome distress and complexity, while fostering healthier communication and stronger relationships.

Philippa is skilled in addressing a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties, such as anxiety, depression, relationship issues, self-esteem concerns, eating disorders, and intergenerational trauma. Her expertise extends to working with children, adolescents, couples, and adults, ensuring that every family member feels supported throughout the therapy process.

With a sensitive and culturally aware approach, Philippa tailors her sessions to accommodate diverse family structures and beliefs, while drawing upon her extensive knowledge in theology, philosophy, psychotherapy, and counselling to facilitate lasting change.

Family therapy can help with:

• adoption and fostering
• blended families
• child and teen behavioural issues
• illness and bereavement
• infidelity 
• intergenerational living 
• life changes and transitions
• parenting issues.