If your family feels stuck in conflict, struggling with communication, or like the “teamwork” has gone missing, you’re not alone. Families are beautifully complex—and sometimes, understandably messy. Many of the families I see are asking a version of the same question:
“How can we start working together again instead of against each other?”
That’s where I bring together Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT) and a Systemic Family Therapy approach—a practical, strengths-based combination designed to help families reconnect and move forward.
My Belief About Families and Change
I don’t believe families need to be “fixed.” Instead, they need space to notice what’s already working, strengthen connection, and shift unhelpful patterns into healthier ones. I don’t look for a “problem child” or a “difficult parent”—I look at the whole system and help each person find their voice while working toward shared goals. I believe you are the expert in your own lives and family experiences. I take a collaborative approach to help you discover solutions that will work uniquely for your family.
What Is Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT)?
SFT is a short-term, outcome-oriented approach that emphasizes what’s working and what’s possible. Rather than staying stuck in the past, we focus on what you want to be different—and how you’ve already taken steps toward that change.
You might hear me ask:
• “What are your best hopes for coming here?”
• “When was the last time things felt just a little bit better?”
• “If your family was working as a strong team, how would you know?”
These questions aren’t just feel-good exercises—they’re a roadmap to meaningful change.
What Is Systemic Family Therapy
Systemic family therapy looks at how your family operates as a whole. Every family has patterns—some helpful, others less so. This approach explores how each person affects the others, and how changes in one part of the system can ripple positively through the whole.
Taking a solution-focused therapy together with a systemic family therapy approach, families benefit from:
• Hope + insight
• Strategies + connection
• A focus on small changes that lead to big shifts in how you relate
Is This the Right Approach for Your Family?
You may benefit from this approach if your family:
• Is motivated to make change, even if things feel hard
• Is open to talking about strengths, not just struggles
• Is ready to improve communication and connection
• Has a shared or complementary goals (even if there’s disagreement on how to get there)
• Is navigating transitions like divorce, blending families, parenting struggles, or conflict between siblings or generations
This approach may not be the best starting point if:
• There is active abuse or domestic violence
• One or more family members are unwilling to participate
• There is untreated addiction or unmanaged serious mental illness
• You’re seeking deep trauma processing or intensive long-term therapy
What the Research Says
A Solution-Focused Systemic Family Therapy approach has been shown to:
• Improve problem-solving and reduce conflict
• Increase emotional support between family members
• Boost confidence in handling challenges—in 6 sessions
• Well-researched for parent-teen conflict, blended family struggles, and multi-generational tensions
• Effective at helping families see themselves as a team rather than adversaries
What to Expect in Sessions
First Session: We’ll get to know each other, discuss your hopes for therapy, and decide who will attend sessions. It’s okay if not everyone can come every time.
Ongoing Sessions: We’ll focus on:
• Times when you recall closer family connections in the past
• The resources and strengths your family already has
• Exploring your preferred future as a family
You can expect:
• A warm, safe space where everyone is heard
• Gentle questions that spark new perspectives
• A therapist who believes in your family’s strength and resilience
Families typically attend 6–12 sessions, depending on their needs.
Take the First Step Toward Reconnection
Learn more about me on my therapist profile
Explore Solution-Focused Therapy at Eckert Centre
Learn more about Systemic Family Therapy
Book Your Session:
Call 403-230-2959
Book Online Now — in-person in Calgary or online anywhere in Alberta
