Counselling and Therapy Services 

IFT (Institute of Family Therapy) specialises in working with families, couples and individuals and other relationship groups. We have been established since 1977 and are located close to Euston Station in London, UK.  Our service is available to any clients who wish to work on their relationships.  

We have two therapy services - the Clinical Service and Services for Families in Conflict

Services for Families in Conflict

• Parents in conflict – Private Law Proceedings
• Therapy following Court Proceedings
• Assessments for Courts
• Child Care Cases in Public Law

Parents in Conflict - Private Law Proceedings

We offer expertise in the assessment of the impact on children of enduring parental dispute and high conflict following divorce or separation.  Typically this involves conflict regarding contact or residence of the children.

Often such situations occur when less intense forms of intervention, such as mediation, have not been successful and when one or both parents have used the Court system over a protracted period of time.  We can be helpful to the Courts in making decisions regarding ongoing contact with the non-resident parent and in helping parents to understand the needs of the children.

Our approach is culturally sensitive and aims to avoid continuing conflict.  We use parent coaching and other reflective methods to help individuals minimise conflict and focus on the needs of the children, while developing conflict resolution skills.

Therapy following Court Proceedings

The Institute offers a range of therapeutic services to families, couples and individuals following court proceedings.  Where proceedings are adjourned we can provide a ‘trial of treatment’ to test the possibilities for long term change.

We can be commissioned by local authorities to provide therapy where families are to be rehabilitated or where permanent separation is recommended.

Assessments for Court

Here at the Institute we have a number of experienced practitioners who are able to undertake a variety of assessments regarding children and families as detailed below.

Our assessments are culturally attuned and where possible we aim to provide a skilled practitioner from the clients’ culture of origin.

Assessments normally take 12 to 16 weeks from the point of agreement about the work to be undertaken. All of our assessments are undertaken by appropriately qualified, skilled and experienced  Family Therapists.

Child Care Cases in Public Law

 At the Institute we provide comprehensive assessments which incorporate the following:

• Cultural understanding of parents’ motivations and aspirations.
• The wishes and feelings of the children in all their complexity
• Assessments of attachment, including the impact of separation and loss.
• An understanding of family dynamics and relationships
• Identification of family strengths and resilience
• Parenting ability and possibilities for change
• The impact of abuse and neglect of all types
• The child’s needs based on their age and stage of development. 
• Issues which may affect the interface of the family with wider systems.
• Building on conflict resolution skills
• An approach which is sensitive to the ways in which children communicate and which aims to make the process and helpful one for them

Contact

For further information please contact Andie Barlow at andie@iftnet.plus.com

Clinical Service

How can IFT help?

At IFT we offer help to those who are finding relationships problematic and would like the opportunity to explore and think about those issues. Although we do see individuals for a limited number of sessions, our main focus is on working with couples, families or other relationship groups.Bringing people together in a safe and supportive atmosphere can often help to improve communication and allow a better understanding of each other. Our focus is on how to move forward although sometimes it is important to think about past events and their impact on the present and future.

IFT works alongside clients to create a way of working that seems most helpful to them.This includes discussion of the timing and regularity of sessions. In most cases IFT uses a team approach to ensure that clients have the benefits of a number of views and ideas. In order to use the team to its full potential we like to work with a one way screen and video. This enables the other team members (usually 4) to observe the sessions from an adjoining room. Their ideas and comments will be shared with you and most clients find this very valuable.

Many clients who come to IFT are experiencing intense upset and pain but others come in order to address problems at an early stage or even to prevent difficulties arising.

IFT is committed to implement its Equal Opportunities Policy and part of this is to do all that is possible to make the service appropriate and accessible to everyone in the community.

Some of the issues we regularly work with are listed below:

• Parenting issues with all age groups
• Couple and marital difficulties
• Issues relating to divorce, separation, step-parenting and lone parenting
• Issues arising out of illness and disability
• Problems relating to alcohol and other substance abuse
• Lesbian and Gay family issues
• Coping with the effects of violence, sexual or emotional abuse in the family
• Re-building relationships after traumatic events
• Coping with the effects of stress on relationships
• *Meeting the challenges of life cycle change

How long will the therapy last and how frequent will appointments be?

This will be discussed with the therapist at the initial session. Sometimes clients only come for a few sessions but in some situations it may be more helpful to meet for longer. Clients can end the therapy at any time and some clients return at a later date for some further discussion about issues.There is usually between 2 - 3 weeks between sessions.

Are there any age limits?

There are no age limits. We work across the whole range of relationships including families with young children and adolescents. Our therapists are skilled in communicating with children of different ages. We also work with adult families and older couples. Sometimes adult brothers and sisters find it helpful to have a forum to talk about relationships and family issues.

Will there be a choice of therapist?

Following a discussion with one of our clinical administrators you will be allocated to a therapist who we hope meets your needs. You will have an opportunity to state any important preferences (for example you may prefer a male or female therapist or one with a particular cultural background.We cannot guarantee to meet your requests but we will try.

What are the qualifications of the therapists?

Therapists are either UKCP registered or in the case of Clinical Associates are in the final part of their advanced training in Family and Systemic Psychotherapy. They will aleady be qualified in another related professiona and have extensive experience of working with families, couples and individuals in other settings (including the National Health Service). All therapists receive regular professional consultation and keep up to date with new thinking and developments in the field. Clinical Associates are under the direct supervision of a senior therapist.

Will the sessions be confidential?

Confidentiality will be discussed with you by the therapist at the first session. Sessions are confidential and we do not usually communicate with anyone outside the IFT unless requested by the client. Occasionally we may feel that it would be useful for some information to be shared and we will discuss this with you. It is only in the event of serious concern for the immediate safety of someone that we might overide this rule although wherever possible this would be discussed first.

All records are kept securely. Clients may have access to their own records and the videos of the sessions. This access would be at IFT and under the supervision of a member of staff.

What if I want to attend on my own?

IFT has a particular focus on working with more than one person. This often helps things to move forward at a faster pace. However, clients sometimes want to come to explore the possibility of bringing other people in to the sessions and we are pleased to offer appointments so this can be done. We also offer up to 6 sessions for individuals who with to work on relationship issues on their own.

What happens if I am not happy with the service?

We hope that any concerns can be discussed with the therapist and that any problems can be resolved. We welcome feedback from clients and would wish to do what we can to make the work more helpful. If issues remain unresolved the next step would be to speak with the Assistant Director who is responsible for the clinical work of IFT. IFT has a complaints procedure and copies are available on request. It is also a member organisation of United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy and clients have recourse to their complaints and appeals procedures.

What is the cost?

Payment is on a sliding scale dependent of income. We do not ask any details of your financial affairs but ask you to decide what is appropriate to pay. If clients are unable to pay the minimum fee it may be possible for the fee to be paid.

Accessibility

IFT is situated between Euston Station and Euston Square Underground. The area is well served by public transport and there is pay and display parking avialable in Stephenson Way and adjoining streets.

Because of our easy accessibility we do not operate a catchment area. Many clients come from outside London.

There is disability badge parking outside the building. There is wheelchair access during the day and accessible toilet facilities. In the evening there is a lift, but also 6 steps up into the building. Therapists will do all they can to make the work accessible to anyone with a disability and special requirements should be discussed with the clinical administrator. This leaflet is also available on tape.

If you have any other questions please contact us. We appreciate that seeking therapy and counselling is often a big step and we want to be as helpful as possible. If we think that IFT is not the best place to access the help you need then we will try to direct you to more appropriate help.

What is the referral process?

You can telephone, write or email IFT. Many of our referrals are self referrals but GP's and other professionals may also refer.Our clinical administrators will be pleased to discuss your referral and give more information about the way the therapists work. We think it is very important that you are able to make an informed decision about whether or not to make an appointment.

We would usually expect to have an informal discussion with the lead solicitor. After agreement in principle a formal contract is drawn up setting out the work to be undertaken and the time-scale involved.

Contact

For further information or make a referral please contact Becky Curtis

becky@iftnet.plus.com

24-32 Stephenson Way
London NW1 2HX

Tel: 020 7391 9150