Family counselling

We offer support when

• you need discussion support on parenthood and child-rearing issues or are concerned about your child’s behaviour or moods
• you need help with your family’s interaction problems and how to handle conflicts
• as a parent, you wish for help with relationship problems.

The content and methods of the work are always agreed individually with your family. The work can be carried out as individual, couples or family meetings, as group support or by combining several methods. Most of our clients get the help they want on 1–5 visits, up to a maximum of 15 visits.

Our staff includes psychologists and family counsellors who have versatile additional training and experience in providing support with different family situations. Discussions with us are voluntary and free of charge. We need the consent of both parents/guardians for a child’s client relationship at the Family Counselling Centre.

The best way to get in touch is via the Get Help online function. You can also contact us by phone on weekdays at 9:00–14:00, tel. 09 816 23600. We will call you back as soon as possible, no later than the third business day after you contact us.

The general objective is to support parents in their parenting duties and co-parenting. In parenting guidance and family counselling, ‘parenthood’ refers to an adult’s ability to relate to their child and the parent’s ability to take care of and guide their child. The starting point for the work is the parents’ own view of the family’s situation and of the need for change. The aim of the work is to help clients find new perspectives and new operating models. Support of parenthood includes guidance and advice, but it also often requires therapeutic work to overcome psychological barriers and obstacles caused by the family system.

The aim is to promote the child’s mental well-being and favourable development in the family and other growing environment. It is important to identify and strengthen the factors that protect the child’s development and to identify and mitigate the risk factors. Promoting good interaction between the child and the parent is essential.

The aim is to increase the effective interaction and mutual understanding of family members, improve communication and find positive resources for the family. In the management of a relationship crisis, the aim is to calm the situation of the couple and the whole family, to support both spouses in going through the crisis and to support the parents in maintaining a safe everyday life for the children. When working with parents who are considering divorce or have already divorced, the aim is to find solutions that work in conflict situations in order to arrange the affairs of the children and the family. In family conflict situations, solutions are sought that facilitate everyday life between the children and adults and cooperation between the parents, and help the parents find new ways of dealing with children even in challenging situations and supporting each other as parents.

We provide discussion support for parenthood issues brought about by adolescence, such as young people’s parenting, development, and independence. In addition, helping with family relationships or family interactions in conflict situations is one of our services.

Our work is based on a resource-oriented concept, meaning that we work together with our clients to find solutions, to understand the family situation together, and to strengthen good and effective ways to be a safe and reliable parent for the young person.

Our team includes family counsellors (social workers) and a psychologist. We work alone and in pairs. Our working methods include individual meetings, family meetings, group meetings, and themed events. When necessary, we work together with the client’s network. You can deal with us online or face to face.

Contacts for parenting guidance and family counselling for parents of young people at 040 636 8628.

Our telephone hours are:

• mon and tue at 10.00-12.00
• wed at 14.00-16.00
• thu at 8.30-10.30

The Espoo Family Counselling Centre services’ team for families with babies provides parenting guidance and family counselling services in accordance with the Social Welfare Act for expecting families and families with babies. The purpose of the work is to strengthen the relationship and interaction between the parents and the (unborn) baby and to support parenthood. The goal of therapeutic work is to help parents recognise and understand the obstacles to their own parenting, create good and safe parenting, understand the needs of the baby and find positive ways to connect with the baby. The work to strengthen the relationship often starts during pregnancy, and it is possible to continue it as necessary until the baby is 12 months old.

Both parents are welcome to visit with the baby. The baby is an integral part of the therapeutic work for families with babies, and visits involve focusing on the baby in natural care and interaction situations.

In addition to the discussion, the therapeutic work can also utilise, for example, interviews, video, or various exercises. The content and working methods of the work are always agreed individually and with the family. Appointments can take the form of visits to the office, remote visits or home visits after the baby is born.

The work with families with babies' nurtures interaction and parenting, in addition to which a parent may have challenges with mental health and coping. However, it is important that the parent has sufficient support from mental health services in addition to the work of the team for families with babies so that the parent has the resources to focus attention on the unborn baby and on interaction with the baby.

Referral for the service is through the maternity or child health clinic by a public health nurse contacting the team for families with babies after the contact has been agreed upon during a visit to the clinic. 

Family mediators provide assistance and support upon request in the event of a conflict within the family. Mediation is intended for families with children where the parents are considering divorce. A family where the parents have already divorced and that is trying to adapt to the new life situation can also seek mediation. Mediation is intended to make life easier for the family. Particular attention is paid to the situation of the children in the family and to ensuring that the children can maintain good relationships with both parents even after the divorce or separation.

The family mediator

• tries to establish a confidential and open dialogue between the family members
• strives to reach a consensus on how the conflicts within the family can be resolved
• helps the parties in the conclusion of agreements and other necessary measures
• pays particular attention to the protection of the family’s minor children
• may also provide assistance and support in the event of conflicts in the implementation of a decision or agreement on a child’s guardianship and rights of access.

Mediation discussions are voluntary, confidential and free of charge. The mediator will not disclose to any third party or other authority what they learn in the mediation. If a mediator of family matters is wanted to be heard as a witness in a trial, the mediator cannot disclose information obtained in the mediation even to the court. However, if a mediator becomes aware of a child or young person in need of child welfare services in the performance of their duties, they must submit a child welfare notification.

The best way to get in touch is via the Get Help online function. You can also contact us by phone on weekdays at 9:00–14:00, tel. 09 816 23600. We will call you back as soon as possible, no later than the third business day after you contact us.