We are coming out of the holiday period: traditionally a time for happy family gatherings. For many, however, spending time with family can be exhausting, stressful and upsetting.
Ideally our families are there to support and accept us as we are, but that is not always the case. Many people feel that their family doesn’t understand them.
It’s easy to say the solution is communication. But we know that isn’t always easy. We might worry about upsetting family members, or even being rejected by them. We may not even recognise what we are feeling, or know what we want in a situation.
Being honest with ourselves about our inner experience is so important. The better we understand our experiences, the more we can be in control of ourselves and the better we can communicate – hopefully leading to understanding within the family.
If things are tough, and you don’t feel that your family has much understanding, try taking some time out of your day to think it through and get in touch with your emotions – what is happening to you, and how is it affecting you?
It can be hard to do this on your own. So counselling can offer you a dedicated thinking space with someone who is trained to help you explore your experiences and how they affected you, all within a private and confidential space. In counselling you can speak about whatever you want, including any recent family difficulties over the holidays.