Question 1

What can family therapy help with?

Accepted Answer

Family therapy can help with a wide range of challenges families are experiencing including: 
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Family relationship difficulties
Child and adolescent mental health issues
Adult mental health issues
Child, adolescent and adult behaviour difficulties
Parenting issues
Illness and disability in the family
Separation, divorce and step-family life
Fostering, adoption, kinship care and the needs of ‘looked after’ children
Domestic violence and abuse
Self-harm
Drug and alcohol misuse
The effects of trauma
Physical illness, death, dying and bereavement
Difficulties related to ageing and other life cycle changes

Please bear in mind that this is not an exhaustive list. If you are unsure if family therapy can help you with the challenges you are facing at home, please contact us here.

Question 2

What happens in Family Therapy?

Accepted Answer

Family Therapists build on the strengths already present within individuals, couples and families. The aim is to create a space where different perspectives can be shared and understood, and where families can find workable ways forward together. Sessions usually last 60 minutes. The therapist ensures everyone feels welcome and has the opportunity to contribute. The structure is adapted to suit age and need — sessions with children may include creative approaches such as play or drawing. Some families meet together from the start, while others begin with parents or individual conversations first. Some therapists work alone; others work as part of a team. With consent, colleagues may observe and share reflections, which many families find helpful when navigating complex situations. Family Therapy can also be offered online where appropriate.

Question 3

How long does family therapy last?

Accepted Answer

There is no fixed timeline.

Some families experience meaningful change within a relatively short number of sessions. Others may need longer time to consolidate deeper shifts and work through the challenges.

The work is reviewed regularly so it remains purposeful.

Question 4

Is family therapy just talking about feelings?

Accepted Answer

The short answer is No.

At the beginning of the process, we establish clear therapeutic goals. That might relate to reducing conflict, improving communication, rebuilding trust, or addressing a specific behaviour such as school refusal or aggression.

Yes, we will talk about emotions — because they shape how people respond to one another — but we are also looking at patterns, roles, expectations, and how interactions repeat over time.

We explore questions like:

What happens just before things escalate?
Who tends to step in, and who steps back?
How are past experiences shaping present reactions?
What keeps the same argument returning?

It’s a guided, relational process that helps families understand the dynamic they are living inside — and shift it deliberately. The aim is not endless discussion. The aim is meaningful, observable change.

Question 5

Do we all have to attend every session?

Accepted Answer

Not always.

Family therapy looks at the relational system, but that doesn’t mean every person is present every time.

Sometimes we meet as a whole family. Sometimes with parents. Sometimes with a particular family member.

It depends on what the work requires and it is a collaborative process.

Question 6

How often would we need to come?

Accepted Answer

Most people who attend family therapy sessions find 2 weekly appointments work well but this can be flexed to reflect the needs of you and your family and will be agreed with the therapist when we first meet and can be changed to suit your needs.

Question 7

What if my teenager/children don't want to attend?

Accepted Answer

If children or teenagers are involved, we usually begin the work with the parents first.

That isn’t because the young person is being excluded — it’s because understanding the full relational picture is essential before inviting them into the process.

The early sessions focus on helping parents:

Clarify what’s happening in the current dynamic
Think carefully about how to introduce therapy to their child

How family therapy is explained to a young person is vital.

If it’s presented as “you’re the problem and this is to fix you,” resistance is almost inevitable.

If it’s framed as “we want to understand how things have been feeling for everyone and find a better way forward together,” the tone shifts entirely.

There is always invitation. Family therapy is not about forcing participation. It’s about creating the right conditions for engagement.

And often, as parents begin responding differently and the atmosphere at home steadies, young people become more open to joining the work.

Question 8

How does work with a Family Therapist actually look like?

Accepted Answer

You don’t have to sign up for endless weekly sessions. In fact, most of the families I work with see me every two weeks — giving you time to reflect, try new approaches, and not feel overwhelmed by the process.

Some families only need a handful of sessions to see real movement. Others need more intensive and regular session to facilitate the change.

There’s no one-size-fits-all path. What matters most is that we focus on what’s most urgent in your family dynamic right now, and move at a pace that’s supportive — not stressful.
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If you've been putting off therapy because you're afraid it means a long, expensive commitment. Let’s take that pressure off. A calm, connected family doesn’t require years of therapy. Just the right support at the right time.

Question 9

Can family therapy still work if not everyone attends?

Accepted Answer

Yes.

While we always aim to involve key family members where possible, therapy can still be effective even if someone chooses not to attend. If one member is unable or unwilling to participate, we begin with those who are ready. In systemic work, change in one part of the family often influences the whole.

When one person shifts how they respond, communicate, or position themselves, it can create meaningful change across the wider family system. We will always consider how best to involve others over time, but progress does not depend on everyone being present from the start.

Question 10

What if someone is reluntant to attend?

Accepted Answer

It’s common for one person to feel ready for family therapy while another feels unsure or resistant. This is completely understandable. Starting therapy can feel like a big step, and people move at different paces.

If this happens, we can begin with an initial consultation to explore everyone’s concerns and questions. This gives space to talk about what family therapy involves and how it might help, without pressure.

Family therapy is not about forcing anyone to participate. It’s about creating a safe, structured space where people feel more able — and willing — to engage over time.

Question 11

How much does a family therapy session with Pei-I cost?

Accepted Answer

Family Therapy sessions are £195 for 60 minutes.Most families attend fortnightly. The work is focused, purposeful, and reviewed regularly — not open-ended or indefinite.Family therapy with Pei-I is not simply a weekly conversation.Families are investing in over 30 years of experience working with complex family dynamics — including high-conflict situations, teen aggression, school refusal, self-harm, and long-standing relational strain.Families are investing in specialist training in Family & Systemic Psychotherapy, alongside deep grounding in child development, psychology, and psychoanalytic thinking.Families are investing in:• Goal-oriented therapeutic work • Careful assessment of relational patterns — not surface symptoms • A process that is thoughtful, contained, and purposeful • Clear therapeutic direction rather than open-ended discussionThis work is about understanding what is happening beneath the behaviour and shifting patterns at their root — so change is not temporary, but sustainable.The fee reflects the depth of training, experience, responsibility, and containment required to do this work safely and effectively.

FQA About Family Therapy