About family therapy
Family therapy works with several members together to improve communication, resolve conflicts and support everyone through changes such as separations, illness or adolescence.
Family therapists work with the whole family or several of its members to improve communication, resolve conflicts and go through changes such as separations, losses or a child’s difficulties. They look at relationships rather than at one person alone.
Getting mental health care in Jersey
Public health system · Health and Community Services – Adult Mental Health Services and Jersey Talking Therapies
You can be referred by your GP or another health professional, or refer yourself to Adult Mental Health Services by phone. Jersey Talking Therapies is a free, confidential service for adults aged 18 and over that accepts online self-referral. More information
How to check that a professional is licensed
- Jersey Care Commission. Clinical psychologists and psychotherapists must be registered locally with the Jersey Care Commission; registered psychotherapists must also be registered with the UK HCPC. Counsellors are not covered by local registration. A new Health and Social Care Professionals Register Law was adopted in 2026. Search the official register
- Jersey medical practitioners register (Government of Jersey). Doctors must be on Jersey's register of medical practitioners; you can also check their UK GMC registration. Search the official register
Urgent help in Jersey
If your life or someone else's is in danger, call the emergency number now. These services can help at any time:
- 112 · Emergencias
- 116 123 · Samaritans
Information reviewed in November 2026 · Sources: gov.je, gov.je, statesassembly.je
Signs to look out for
Every family goes through tension. Family therapy may help when conflict is constant or very intense, communication has broken down, a child’s difficulties are straining everyone, members feel stuck in the same patterns, or the family is struggling to adapt to a change such as a separation, a new partner, illness, migration, a loss or a child leaving home.
What helps: treatments and professionals
Systemic family therapy looks at relationships and patterns rather than blaming one person. Approaches with evidence include structural and strategic family therapy, family-based treatment for adolescent eating disorders, multisystemic and functional family therapy for behaviour problems, and parent training. Family therapists, psychologists and social workers with systemic training usually lead the work, sometimes alongside individual therapy.
When to seek urgent help
If there is violence at home, a child or adult is being harmed, or someone is afraid for their safety, contact your local emergency services or specialised protection services. Safety comes before family therapy. Seek urgent help too if any family member talks about suicide, has harmed themselves seriously, or is at risk of harming others.
What you can do in the meantime
Set aside calm times to talk, and try to listen to understand rather than to reply. Agree on a few household rules together and keep them consistent. Avoid involving children in adult conflicts. Make room for enjoyable shared moments, even short ones. If tensions run high, take breaks before continuing a discussion. Each person looking after their own well-being also helps the family.
What does a family therapist do?
A family therapist works with families as a system, seeing several members together or in different combinations. Day to day they help families improve communication, manage conflict, adapt to changes such as separation, illness, migration or the arrival of a child, and support a member who is struggling. They look at roles, rules and patterns in the relationships rather than blaming one person.
When to see a family therapist
Family therapy makes sense when tension at home is constant, when a child or teenager’s difficulties affect everyone, after a separation or blended-family transition, during a loss or serious illness, or when communication has broken down between generations. If one person has a severe mental health condition, family therapy can complement, not replace, individual treatment. Couple-only problems may suit couples therapy better.
How to choose
When choosing, check the licence and training, the approach they use and whether they have experience with what you need. Consider practical aspects too: language, price, location or online sessions and availability. The relationship with the professional matters a great deal; if after a few sessions it does not feel right, it is fine to change.
Frequently asked questions
Does the public health system in Jersey cover psychological care?
You can be referred by your GP or another health professional, or refer yourself to Adult Mental Health Services by phone. Jersey Talking Therapies is a free, confidential service for adults aged 18 and over that accepts online self-referral.
How do I check that a family therapist is licensed in Jersey?
Jersey Care Commission: Clinical psychologists and psychotherapists must be registered locally with the Jersey Care Commission; registered psychotherapists must also be registered with the UK HCPC. Counsellors are not covered by local registration. A new Health and Social Care Professionals Register Law was adopted in 2026.