The focus of family counselling is upon the inter-relationships among family members and shifting their prescribed roles into a healthier, helpful dynamic. People seeking family counselling may be having problems within the nuclear or extended family. Sometimes the family identifies one or more of the children as having problems and are seeking help in how to support their child or children. The problems range from the child acting out (often identified at school), to having problems with school, illness impacting the family, abuse or addiction issues in the closer or extended family, either current or historical. There might also be possible communication problems in the family, or open conflict between or among family members. The therapist works with the family to open up the context and to access the system so that they are able to support each individual family member in as healthy a way as possible.

Families may also not have specific problems that bring them into therapy but want enriched, more supportive relationships to help everyone in the family form dreams and aspirations that capture their potential