Family Therapy Activities
Hello and welcome back to the Center Street Psychology blog! We hope that you had a good start to your year this January and are feeling fresh going into February. Last time, we discussed what family therapy can look like (if you missed it, make sure to check that out). This week we are looking at some activities that can help improve the dynamics within your family.
Family therapy requires openness and willingness. When there are challenges within family systems regarding communication or power, interventions or activities can be a big help! Family therapists might have families engage in various activities and intervention with one another as an intentional way to practice healthy communication, express thoughts and feelings to each other, and conflict resolution. Below are a few common interventions that one might expect to expect within a family therapy session.
Genogram – This is essentially a family tree that includes a lot more detail. The genogram helps the family to see their family structure on paper, with details that describe the relevant dynamics within the family. It can provide clarity and description for relationships that may be estranged, codependent or enmeshed. Sometimes it helps to zoom out and see your family from a bird’s eye view with a professional when a family is feeling stuck with current dynamics!
The emotions ball – In this activity, the therapist provides a beach ball included with different emotions. The ball is passed within your family and whichever word is facing you when you catch the ball, you share the last time you felt that emotion. As simple as this might sound, many families don’t talk about their feelings to one another, which can cause emotional isolation and difficulty in being able to communicate thoughts and feelings that matter within your family system.
Mirroring – This involves family members standing across from one another and mimicking the actions of the person across from them. This activity can be fun and provide some laughs, but its main purpose is to bring awareness one another’s ways of behaving. This helps families learn more about one another at a deeper level and increases effectiveness in communication.
There are many more activities that can help relationship building, communication, and restructuring dynamics. Hopefully some of these examples provide you with a snapshot of some activities completed within a family therapy session.
Please reach out to us at Center Street Psychology if you would like to discuss more about our services. We provide support for many needs, including family therapy. We provide a collaborative approach and are happy to provide you with a complimentary consultation to help potential “fit” with one of our counsellors. We are an inclusive clinic, located in Calgary, Alberta, providing in-person, virtual or hybrid services within Alberta and across Canada. Please call 403-399-5120 to speak with our Director of Client Care, Amy, who will gently guide you through the counselling process
