It Takes a Village
Children’s Mental Health: Harnessing the Power of the “Village” with Systemic Family Therapy
Most of us have heard the phrase ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. Consider that it might also take a village to prevent and intervene in children’s mental health issues. By village, I mean the child’s parents, siblings, extended family, peers, teachers, and health professionals. The ‘village’ is an important resource that we don’t want to ignore!
As a parent of a child with mental health issues, I often felt alone or shut out of my child’s treatment, or solely responsible for their symptoms. I felt powerless, guilty, and even ashamed. It was also hard to juggle the amount of often conflicting advice I received from different health professionals, let alone communicate this to their teachers. As a psychologist and family therapist, I now know that parents and other significant people in a child’s life are a wonderful resource in helping support children’s mental health.
As a parent, you are in a unique position to support your child to navigate difficult times. Family therapy enables you do this in a non-judgemental therapeutic environment that also supports your parenting, family relationships, and relationships with school staff and other supports.
What is systemic family therapy?
One common misconception about family therapy is that it’s simply doing individual therapy but with all family members in the same room. Of course, strategies and interventions from individual therapeutic approaches can be incorporated into family therapy work. However, systemic family therapists consider both the child’s presenting complaint (e.g. anxiety, behavioural issues) as well as the patterns of interaction impacting their symptoms. It involves working with the child and some or all of the important people in their life. This systemic, holistic approach means that each person in the system is seen as part of a whole unit – the village!
Family systems therapy suggests that a change in one part of the system (e.g. parent-child relationship, teacher-child relationship, co-parenting relationship) may bring about changes in another (e.g. the child’s symptoms). It also suggests that symptoms occur in the larger context of the family and/or helping system. Meaning the child may be expressing the dysregulation of the whole – or parts – of the system. Given problems don’t emerge in a vacuum, it follows that they won’t be fixed in one!
Therapy could look like working with your child in the room individually, or with other village members included at different times during the treatment process (e.g. parent-child, co-parents, siblings, teachers). This means that not every family member needs to attend therapy as your family therapist will consider their influence regardless. The therapist may also engage with other supports that your child has with your involvement, including schools, GPs, and psychiatrists, to ensure that everyone is on the same page. Systemic family therapy can often be helpful when you have tried individual therapy, but your child remains symptomatic (e.g. anxious in the context of parental separation).
How does this support children’s mental health?
Reupert, Straussner, Weimand, and Maybert (2022) note the key principles of the ‘village’ or systemic approach:
- Family, parent’s, and children’s strengths and resources are identified and amplified.
- Children are encouraged to have a voice and perspective on the issues and potential solutions.
- Parents partner in the planning and delivery of services, with their views actively sought when defining problems and solutions.
- Practitioners from various professional disciplines work together (e.g. psychologists, school staff, etc.) to support the child and family.
- Support is adapted in accordance with the developmental needs of the child.
- Support aims to prevent immediate and longer-term problems.
- Individual, familial, and communal cultures are considered when addressing problems and solutions.
- Feedback and evaluation processes are built into the therapeutic process.
What can systemic family therapy help with?
Research suggests that family-based interventions are effective – and cost-effective – for the treatment of many child-focused problems including:
- Anxiety disorders.
- Depression.
- Sleep and behavioural issues.
- Eating disorders.
- School refusal.
- Neurodevelopmental issues.
- Relationship issues.
They can also support children and families with:
- Co-parenting conflict.
- Sibling rivalry.
- Separation and divorce.
- Grief and loss.
- Blended or extended family conflict.
For example, treatment of school refusal may include careful assessment to identify anxiety triggers and barriers to school attendance, relaxation and social skills to help with anxiety, and the development of a collaborative return-to-school plan with carers and teachers. It would also include support for everyone involved to reinforce these strategies.
How do I know if my child needs support?
If you or your child’s teachers notice any of the following over an extended period, it may be time to seek additional support:
- Sudden changes in behaviour – are they withdrawing, showing decreased interest in previously enjoyed activities, or displaying increased aggression?
- Persistent sadness or anxiety – while its natural to experience a range of emotions, are they frequently crying, or expressing worry or avoidance that is interfering with their learning and relationships?
- Changes in sleep or eating habits – are they experiencing regularly interrupted sleep, frequent nightmares, or drastic weight fluctuations?
- Social withdrawal or conflict in peer relationships – are they struggling to make or keep peer relationships, or showing little interest in social interactions?
- Difficulties with learning and academic performance – are they having difficulty concentrating at school, have had a significant drop in grades, or school refusing?
- Physical symptoms with no apparent cause – are they complaining of frequent headaches or stomach aches? This may indicate emotional and psychological distress, especially if they lack the skills to articulate their feelings.
If you think that the ‘village’ approach may benefit your child and family’s wellbeing, contact our clinic on 8297 5887 or email at admin@choicepsychology.com.au for further information or to discuss booking an appointment.
Remember, supporting children’s mental health is a shared responsibility 😊
References
Carr, A. (2019). Family therapy and systemic interventions for child‐focused problems: The current evidence base. Journal of Family Therapy, 41(2), 153–213. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12226.
Reupert, A., Straussner, S. L., Weimand, B., & Maybery, D. (2022). It takes a village to raise a child: understanding and expanding the concept of the “village”. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, Article 756066. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.756066.
By Melissa Minney
Clinical Psychologist & Family Therapist
BPsych (Hons), MPsych (Clin), FCCLP, MAPS
Melissa Minney is a senior clinical psychologist and family therapist at Choice Psychology. She uses the systemic family therapy approach in her family therapy practice. She also works with couples, children, adolescents, and adults with a wide range of mental health and personal issues such as depression & anxiety, conflict separations, domestic violence, addiction, trauma, life adjustments, gender & sexual identity, developmental & learning disorders, and relationship issues.
