Family counselors are mental health professionals who deal specifically with conflicts and behavioral issues involving members of a family. They work with family members on an individual basis or in a group setting. Some counselors focus on resolving issues between married couples. Family counselors should possess a variety of key skills to be effective in their role.
Family counselors must possess strong communication skills. They must be able to listen to the various points of view that family members have about issues without appearing to be judgmental and to ask appropriate questions in the process of gathering more information when necessary. Family counselors also need to facilitate the communication process between family members, particularly if they are reluctant to talk about important issues or to even acknowledge that problems exist.
Perceptiveness and Empathy
Each family member plays a role in the family structure, so the family counselor must be perceptive enough to understand varied points of view and have the empathy to mentally place himself in each person's shoes. For instance, one family member may be domineering, while another attempts to be the peacemaker when conflicts arise. By gaining an understanding of each role, the counselor can work to develop strategies so that she can help family members coexist.
Once the issues or conflicts have been identified, family counselors must help the parties achieve an effective resolution that is as satisfactory as possible to everyone involved. Counselors must be skilled at helping the parties to identify a set of possible alternatives and to weigh the pros and cons of each. When the parties finally agree on a course of action, the counselor helps them develop a plan of implementation and follows up to make adjustments if necessary.
Instructing and Leadership
Families that seek counseling are often confused about what direction to take to resolve issues. Counselors need strong leadership skills to develop the trust necessary to persuade family members to follow the recommended course of action. They also must have the teaching skills necessary to help the family members understand the causes of the conflict as well as the various steps in the conflict-resolution process. In some cases, counselors need to teach family members how to change negative behavior patterns.
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