COPY - Flourish Health & Wellbeing eMag - Latest Edition - Flipbook - Page 70
Recognise that family
and relationship issues
are complex
Family and rela琀椀onship issues are complex
and mul琀椀-faceted. Not restricted to separa琀椀on,
family and rela琀椀onship issues can include a
myriad of dynamics and interpersonal issues.
Increasingly, EAP u琀椀lisa琀椀on data is re昀氀ec琀椀ng
individuals accessing EAP counselling for family
and rela琀椀onship support. Converge’s Family
Assist stream is also proving to be the secondmost u琀椀lised service a昀琀er EAP Counselling
Assist. As a result, Managers and Leaders are
ques琀椀oning how best to support individuals
experiencing these issues. There are a few key
points to note if an individual is experiencing a
family or rela琀椀onship issue/breakdown;
•
Family processes are o昀琀en lengthy. For
example, if a separated parent requires
support to nego琀椀ate with the other parent
about spending 琀椀me arrangements, ,
they may engage in a media琀椀on service.
Media琀椀on requires each party to a琀琀end an
intake session with a family mediator before
a joint session being scheduled. Usually,
some joint media琀椀on sessions are required
before a paren琀椀ng plan is dra昀琀ed and
agreed to.
•
Rela琀椀onship and family counselling is not a
one-o昀昀 support. Counselling of this nature
may require several individuals to speak
with a consultant both separately and
together. More than one joint session is
generally required.
•
Family and rela琀椀onship separa琀椀on
processes can be lengthy and costly. If an
individual is experiencing a separa琀椀on,
they may wish to seek legal advice. They
will then most likely be required to a琀琀end
media琀椀on as this is a mandatory 昀椀rst step
before making an applica琀椀on for orders
in the Federal Circuit and Family Court of
Australia. Individuals may also seek 昀椀nancial
advice and be required to obtain various
昀椀nancial documents. In addi琀椀on to the
formal processes, they may be naviga琀椀ng
where to live, how to parent separately and
adjus琀椀ng to a new schedule and way of life.
Understanding this context before having a conversation with your team members
about what is happening for them, enables Managers and Leaders to make
reasonable adjustments, and appropriate referrals and ensure the individual is
supported to remain productive, engaged and achieving in their role.