Child Focused Family Therapy
STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM
Infant and child focused family therapy for families who are experiencing difficulty in pregnancy, or had a challenging pregnancy, birth experience or other issues in the early years.
The Strengthening Families Program addresses difficulties, including:
depression or anxiety in pregnancy or postpartum
a difficult birth
prematurity
adoption
illness of mother, father or baby
death within the close family
separation or divorce
other significant stressors that impact the parent, baby or child
PRENATAL COUPLES AND FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN 0-5 YEARS
The work will be centered around supporting the infant or child and the parents to come back into harmony and close healthy connection. Babies and children will be supported to work through and release very early traumatic experiences with the support of their family. Any family with children age 5 and under can refer themselves for a session. You can also be referred by a family physician, public health nurse or other caregiver after agreement by the family member.
Families with Children 6-12 years
Child focused family therapy for families with an older child who had a difficult pregnancy or birth experience or difficulties in the early years.
The child may be showing signs of:
anger
withdrawal
defiance
difficulties in behavior, school or peer groups
difficulties in the relationship with parents
The work will be centered around supporting the child and the parents to come back into harmony and close healthy connection and the child to come back into a healthy relationship with himself and other children. Children will be assisted to work through traumatic experiences with the support of their family. Occasionally, with older children it may be appropriate for the child to be seen without parents in a play therapy setting for some of the session. Any family with children age 6-12 can refer themselves for a session.
Adoption Support
Adoption at any age, from newborn to teens, involves attachment issues. Myrna provides pre-adoption counseling and post-adoption support to families working through the present attachment issues. The issues will be significant if the child being adopted is from an international setting or if the child has been in several homes or in foster care. Even newborns adopted directly from their birth location are making an inherent shift from attaching to their biological mother to their adopting family and can benefit from some short term support in developing a secure attachment.
Book Your Session
Phone and Skype consultations are available for people around the world. Even if Myrna has not met parents, effective counseling and support is still possible. To schedule a session, please call Myrna at (250) 509-1033, or email myrna@myrnamartin.net.
As of Jan. 1, 2019 Myrna’s rate for sessions is $150. Myrna is now located in Comox, BC
