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Human beings are social. Living together has been a necessity throughout the evolving years. Families have emerged as a classification based on different dimension, but every family has the power to influence behaviours among each other from within.

Being a life coach for over 15+ years now, I have had the experience and opportunity to provide my services to people from all walks of life and with marriage and family counselling, I have known that a major chunk of the development of an individual initiates from the family. Parental behaviour and a person’s relationships with their siblings play a major role in making or breaking their personality development.  

The Benefits Of Family Counseling And How It Works 

In Family counselling, a professional, works with families to help them deal with issues and conflicts they may be facing within their family. The major objective of this is to help family members communicate better, resolve conflicts, and develop coping strategies to deal with difficult situations. 

One of the primary reasons why family counselling is required is to help families deal with conflicts and disagreements, family problems and solutions. Conflicts can arise due to a variety of reasons, including differences in opinions, values, and beliefs, financial stress, and interpersonal issues.

It can provide a safe space for family members to express their feelings and work towards resolving conflicts constructively. Through open communication and active listening, family members can learn to understand each other’s perspectives and find common ground. 

My services have been effective and helpful to my clients as I have focused on making them understand the various types of family therapy and guided them in availing of the services that fit their needs the best. The types of family therapy I provide include: 

– Bowenian: for situations where an individual doesn’t want to involve other family members.
– Structural: focuses on adjusting the family system to bring parents in control.
– Systemic: focuses on subconscious communication and meanings.
– Strategic: brief and direct, with the therapist assigning homework to alter family interactions.

Another reason why family counselling is important is to help families cope with major life changes. This can include a divorce or separation, the death of a loved one, or a major illness or injury.

These types of incidents can have a significant impact on the entire family. Counselling can help family members process their emotions and develop strategies for coping with the changes. 

To propagate through family problems and solutions, marriage and family counselling is a prerequisite for what one can term as right parenting which eventually leads to productive child development. This is how a good bond and constructive relationships can be maintained in the family.  

Counselling can also be beneficial for families who are struggling with mental health issues. This can include depression, anxiety, addiction, or other mental health disorders. A trained professional can provide guidance and support to help family members better understand the mental health issue and develop strategies to manage the associated symptoms.

Family counselling can also help family members learn how to support each other through difficult times and work towards recovery together. 

In addition to these reasons, family counselling can also help families develop better communication skills. What I have found in many of the individuals I provide counselling for is that expressing what they really need with the ones in their family is one major thing to work on and pass through, acting as an ice breaker for many other things.

Family counselling can help family members learn how to express their feelings healthily and constructively, and how to listen actively to others. This can help to build stronger, more positive relationships within the family. 

Who needs family counselling?

The truth is, anyone can benefit from family counselling. It is not just for families who are experiencing major problems or crises. Many families seek counselling as a preventative measure to help them build stronger relationships and improve communication before problems arise. Others seek counselling as a way to address minor issues before they escalate into larger problems. 

Here are some specific examples of situations where family counselling may be helpful: 

– A family is struggling to communicate effectively and resolve conflicts. 

– A family has experienced a major life change, such as a divorce or the death of a loved one. 

– A family member is struggling with mental health issues, such as depression or addiction. 

– A family is experiencing financial stress or other external pressures. 

– A family is going through a difficult transition, such as a child leaving for college or a move to a new location. 

It is important to note that family counselling is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Every family is unique, and the approach to counselling will depend on the needs and goals of the family. An experienced counsellor, one like me can work with the family to develop a customized plan that addresses their specific challenges and provides the support they need to move forward. 

In conclusion, family counselling can help family members communicate better, resolve conflicts, and develop coping strategies to deal with difficult situations. If you or your family are experiencing challenges, consider reaching out and I, Ritu Singal, am just one tap away from travelling with you together on your journey. 

Having kids is a challenge in itself- but when the kid develops into a teen especially, it can be a hundredfold challenge for their parents. However, parents should not think it is impossible to parent a teen in a beautiful, functional adult who makes everyone around them proud.

As a life coach, I, Ritu Singal, have been a mother too, and have also raised two beautiful daughters into the strong girls they are today.

I can, thus, testify that teens are also humans (I know, their behavior and tantrums resemble aliens, but still) who are just rediscovering their identity as they are developing from children to adult, by crossing the fragile bridge of teenage years.

In this blog, let us see how we can handle our teens better, and give them the teenage they deserve.

But first, let us dive into why teenagers behave the way they do.

Why teenagers behave the way they do

Although your teen kids might seem like aliens from another planet you no longer understand, beneath all the riff raff and harsh behavior, your child still lives on, trying to find their identity as an adult.

You must try and understand that the teenager isn’t enjoying it either, its a psychological response to the constant changes battering their body and lives, which changes their personality as well.

The frontal lobe of the teenager undergoes development during these years, which is the part of the brain that controls the personality of the person.

Let us not forget the effect of the hormones, which are probably making your teen feel even more sullen and angry, as they feel that there are changes in their body they can’t even control.

At any point of time, they are doing the best they can, with what they have.

Teens read the emotions of other differently, often in a wrong way

Teens are often different from adults in the way they read the emotions of others.

According to ACT for Youth, as opposed to adults, teens use the amygdala to read emotions, but adults use the prefrontal cortex.

The amygdala is responsible for our emotional reactions, and it can thus lead to teens having wrong notions about the reactions of their parents. In the above given study, the teens often identified different emotions of adults wrongly as being angry.

Checkout: What should parents do to stop teenagers from going to social media?

How to handle your teen?

I hope that the above explanation gives you a glimpse into how the teenage brain thinks and works.

As they perceive others to be angry most of the time, they often reply by retorting back instead of replying back to even the most common remarks, which shouldn’t normally incite the person.

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As a life coach, I, Ritu Singal, advice all parents to deal with the teenage attitude with understanding and compassion. They may be rude, stuck up and even too difficult to handle, but in the end, they are the same sweet children you once raised.

Therefore, a little understanding and compassion can go a long way.

Here are some of the tips I used to improve my parent- child relations when my daughters were teens-

• Try to understand them as much as you can

Don’t let your annoyance with them come in the way of you trying to understand your teen child.

I understand that it is near impossible not to show emotions while dealing with an emotional teen, but arguing with them with your emotions against them will only escalate the situation.

Let’s not forget you are the adults here, so you have to be the bigger person here and try understanding your teen.

If this doesn’t work,

• Give your teenager some well deserved space

A teenager can have multiple things in their mind at the same time, and can be a mixbag of ideas and thoughts. 

They need some space, to sort out their thoughts and ideas and to think about their future. As if teenage years weren’t stressful enough alone, our society has put the pressure of entrance exams on our teens, who now have to make life changing decisions while making sure their future remains bright.

This all contributes to even more stress for them, and the only way you can help them with it is by giving them space should they need it.

However, remember that your teens don’t want to feel lonely, and therefore it becomes important to

• Love and respect the kids in their teens

Many times, parents forget that their teens also have their own lives, and their own dreams.

I have seen so many parents pressure their children to take one exam or the other, for a supposedly better future, however, after the stress of the exam gets to them, they fall prey to mental illnesses like depression and anxiety.

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If they feel neglected, they might move towards bad company, drugs or sex to keep themselves happy, which can stagnate their growth.

As a life coach, I encourage parents to try and keep a bond with their teens that will help them be better for themselves, without any added pressure by the parents.

A dash of love and pint of respect can help your teen feel much better than they might ever feel anywhere else.

How can I, Ritu Singal, a life coach, help you raise your teens well?

Look, I get it. The life of a parent is dificult, but the life of a teen is much more chaotic as they struggle to decide what they want and what they will do in the future, due to the pressure on them by their parents, high school and society.

As a life coach, I can help you understand parenting a teenager the right way.

I was a single parent at the time my kids were teenagers, so I know how difficult it can be to raise a teenager.

But with the right perspective instilled in you along with the best guidance to boot, you can give your teenage child the parenthood they deserve from you.

Are you trapped in a marriage you don’t like to be in?

Are you tired of trying to communicate, but failing, since your partner doesn’t do the same with you, for you?

As an online marriage counselor, I, Ritu Singal, firmly believe that in all kinds of marriages, especially those which face problems on a regular basis, couples counseling can play a big role in helping couples succeed together.

I have helped many other couples like yours battle out the tough phase in their relationship with more support than they could have imagined was possible to get.

Mental coaching is an important part of life, whether it is for marriage or life coaching, and can help you really move ahead in life.

Resolving conflicts in the relationship

Whether you are living with your spouse or someone else, conflicts are unavoidable.

However, you can definitely reduce its frequency in your relationship, or even if not reduce then find out a foolproof way to resolve these fights.

The smartness is not in having zero fights but in resolving those fights as efficiently and pleasantly as possible.

All conflict is an opportunity to further deepen your relationship with each other, and to know more about each other and how the spouse reacts in a difficult circumstance.

This is the reason why solving conflicts peacefully and healthily becomes so important for both you and your partner.

I, a life coach (Ritu Singal), focus on helping people set up foolproof systems, processes and even better communication for the same.

Giving your relationship a new sheen

Every relationship requires new energy from time to time. 

As an online marriage counselor, I, Ritu Singal, help couples like you to give your relationships a new sheen and shine.

In today’s age and time especially, people get bored of each other soon, if nothing new is introduced to them, to encourage them.

A new sheen and shine means your relationship will have more energy, you guys as a couple will be more communicative and you will also enjoy the relationship more.

You may have experienced a growth spurt in your relationship in the initial days, which dulls and stunts as the days go by.

When your relationship is new, you focus more on your partner and enjoy each and every moment with them.

Even conflicts are easily handled, and the relationship feels like smooth sailing. Everything, basically, is all flowers and garden.

However, as time goes by, this energy begins to drop and soon you both may grow tired and frustrated of each other.

It becomes important to seek coaching in that case, in order to renew both your vigor towards each other and to remind yourselves of why you chose to be in a relationship with that specific person and not anyone else.

Mental coaching from me can help you experience that growth spurt throughout the duration of your relationship.

I have coached many couples through the same.

Increasing trust and intimacy in the relationship

Relationships work on trust and intimacy, something which is often overlooked for the duration of the relationship by people.

You may feel like you and your partner love and trust each other enough, but paradoxically, it is this same feeling which gives away that there is a lack of trust in the relationship.

This happens as good couples know building trust is an ongoing process, that you need to keep on working at building your trust, so as to maintain it in your relationship.

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Having more trust means you can live life tension and stress free as you can always count on your partner for support.

Having more intimacy, on the other hand, allows you to confess your deepest and darkest thoughts and feelings with your spouse without the fear of being judged.

Some of you may make the mistake of thinking that marriage counseling is only for people whose relationship with their spouse is in shambles and about to break, however, you are wrong about it.

Marriage and life coaching can help induce a new vigor for life in you and help you and your spouse make the most of your relationship with each other.

Taking out time for each other

One of the major complaints you may have also seen being raised by couples is that they hardly take out time for each other.

Mental coaching can help you sort out your days in such a way that you can easily take out time for each other, no matter how busy you may be.

Taking out time for your spouse in a relationship is crucial, so that you can know each other better and also have time to cherish this relationship with each other.

Most people take relationships for granted, wherein they don’t care about their partner’s needs and are just committed in a relationship for the sake of being with each other.

I hope that is not the case for you, but even if it is, psychological counseling and coaching can help you resolve these issues.

I, as a mental and wellness coach, work together with my clients to help them understand where they may be lacking in their commitments to each other and how they can be a better partner to their spouse.

Why should I, Ritu Singal, be your online marriage counselor?

Couples counseling is a sensitive topic, which requires the experience and maturity of a counselor like me. I have successfully helped many couples like you going through their marriage issues.

I have an extensive array of my own personal experiences to draw from, which makes my coaching experience richer, more diverse and deeper.

I am one of the best life coaches in India, and am focussed on helping my clients, you that is, to help achieve the pinnacle of your potential when in a relationship, with your partner, not in spite of it.

I say this all to instill your confidence in me and my abilities,  which have stood the test of time and have worked for both me and my relationship, which has led me to flourish as an example today for others.

Recently, I had the opportunity to attend my school’s Alumni meet, and it was a truly fantastic experience. Reconnecting with old classmates and teachers brought me immense joy, and I cherished every moment.

As I found a few spare moments, I decided to visit my old classroom and sat on my familiar bench. Memories came flooding back, evoking a range of emotions. In that nostalgic state, I couldn’t help but reflect on my sixteen-year-old self. During that time, I really wanted to help people and understand more about how we think and see the world. But I never expected that these dreams would lead me to become a mental health coach.

Mental health is an essential aspect of overall well-being, and mental health/ life coaches offer personalized support and guidance to help individuals overcome obstacles and create positive changes in their lives. Whether through online or offline sessions, mental health/ life coaching is a valuable resource for enhancing well-being.

The Benefits of Mental Health Coaching:

Mental health coaching provides numerous benefits that contribute to a happier and more fulfilled life. Mental health coaches offer personalized support to help individuals overcome obstacles and reach their goals.

Through counseling, individuals can learn problem-solving skills, stress management techniques, and ways to care for themselves. Moreover, mental health coaching equips individuals with tools and strategies to improve interpersonal relationships and create a balanced lifestyle.

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Online and Offline Counseling Sessions:

Life coaching can be tailored to individual preferences, offering both online and offline counseling sessions. More and more people are choosing to have counseling online because it allows them to get support without leaving their homes.

These sessions can be conducted through video calls, phone calls, or messaging platforms, offering flexibility for those with busy schedules or geographical constraints.

However, in-person counseling sessions that happen in person offer a more personal and direct approach. This means that people can talk to a counselor face-to-face and have a safe and private place to share their thoughts and feelings.

Differentiating Life Coaching and Counseling:

It is important to note that life coaching and counseling all are little different from each other and also play significant roles in personal growth and well-being.

Life coaching involves working with a trained helper to identify goals, overcome problems, and make plans for personal development. This form of coaching focuses on the present and future, aiming to unlock an individual’s potential and achieve specific goals.

They give advice, encouragement, and motivation to help the person unlock their abilities and make good changes in things like work, relationships, getting better personally, staying healthy, and feeling good overall.

It is important to differentiate between life coaching and therapy or counseling.While therapy helps with emotional healing and dealing with mental health problems, life coaching is more about focusing on what you want to achieve in your life right now and in the future. A life coach helps you reach your full potential and accomplish specific goals.

Marriage counseling, whether online or offline, offers couples professional guidance to navigate challenges and improve their relationship. Marriage is a beautiful journey characterized by love, companionship, and growth.

However, even the strongest of marriages can encounter challenges along the way. That’s where marriage counseling comes in. In today’s digital age, couples have the option to seek professional guidance through both online and offline platforms.

Offline Marriage Counseling: Traditional marriage counseling sessions conducted face-to-face with a licensed therapist offer a range of benefits:

• Personal Connection: In-person sessions provide a deeper level of personal connection between the therapist and the couple. This physical presence allows for immediate feedback and better understanding of non-verbal cues.
• Safe Space: A dedicated counseling environment outside the home creates a safe space for couples to express their concerns openly. This atmosphere can promote trust, empathy, and effective communication.
• Tailored Solutions: Experienced therapists can tailor their approach to each couple’s unique needs, addressing specific concerns and offering personalized guidance.

Online Marriage Counseling: Technological advancements have paved the way for online marriage counseling, which has gained popularity in recent years. Here are some advantages to consider:

– Accessibility and Convenience: Online counseling eliminates geographical limitations, enabling couples to connect with therapists regardless of their location. Moreover, it offers flexibility in scheduling, making it accessible and convenient for busy individuals.

– Anonymity and Comfort: Online counseling can provide a sense of comfort and anonymity, allowing couples to freely express themselves without feeling judged or self-conscious.

– Affordability: In general, online counseling tends to be more affordable than traditional in-person sessions, as it eliminates associated costs like travel expenses.

Checkout: Signs You Need a Mental Health Coach and Why You Should Consider Me?

Finding the Right Mental Health Coach:

To ensure an effective coaching experience, it is essential to find a qualified professional who aligns with your needs and goals. Assess your specific requirements, research qualifications, read reviews and testimonials, and consider compatibility when selecting a mental health coach.

Discuss logistics such as availability, fees, and session formats to align with your preferences and schedule.

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To maximize the effectiveness of counseling sessions, consider the following professional tips:

1. Be open and honest: Transparency and honesty about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences are key to helping your mental health coach understand your needs and goals.
2. Come prepared: Take time to reflect on specific challenges or goals you would like to discuss before each session. This ensures that conversations are focused and productive.
3. Active participation: Counseling is a collaborative process, so actively participate in the session by asking questions, seeking clarification, and providing feedback. This helps the coach tailor their approach to your specific needs.
4. Practice self-care: Prioritize self-care before and after counseling sessions to maintain emotional well-being. Engage

When someone decides to get mental health coaching, they are getting help and guidance to become a better version of themselves. This helps them handle problems, set achievable goals, and feel happier and healthier overall. By working with a trained mental health coach and taking part in counseling sessions, people can grow and make positive changes in their lives.

I finally had the courage to start writing my autobiography, a very big step from my side.

Being a life coach isn’t easy, and writing an autobiography is even more difficult.

It was a long journey, for me, to come to where I am today in my life.

I am very sure that the Ritu Singal people knew at the start of their lives, when they first met me, that it is very different from the Ritu Singal of today.

When I started living my life, I was a small doe with big eyes and even bigger than life ambitions.

Now, as I grow older and more mature, I have changed. Those doe eyes are not as easy to recognise in me as they once were.

At my core, I have changed many times as I assumed different roles. Daughter, wife, mother, entrepreneur.

But now the core is the same as before, a state I firmly believe is the best state to be in- innocent yet wise, curious yet experienced.

As to whether you should read my book or not, I will leave it up to you to decide, but in order to make your decision easier, I will leave a brief summary of my autobiography with you.

My story starts in the picturesque hills of Shimla, where I was born the third child of my parents.

Checkout: A glimpse of my book I Decided Not to Cry

I had a doting childhood, filled with love from my parents as well as my siblings.

I had my fair share of difficulties in childhood as well, of course, as not anyone can grow cuddling the golden spoon.

My major life chapter, however, starts when I started going to college.

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I aspired to be an IAS having wanted to clear the civil services exam, and I was even the topper at my law college, which helped me prepare for a glorious future ahead. 

Little did I know, however, that my life will take a drastic turn, having been approached by a boy named Vikas, who fell for me, and later on, made me fall for him too.

After marriage, however, the attitude of my husband began changing, and the same husband, who had promised me a peaceful life and encouraged me to practice as a teacher, changed.

He strictly opposed my decision to work outside home, and I was shattered. I gave up on my career dreams, which I had been pursuing so ardently earlier.

After the birth of our daughters, however, it made my life more beautiful.

It soon changed with the entrance of a girl named Rosy, who won over the heart of my husband and started an affair with him that changed my destiny forever, and led to my marriage being not so destroyed from outside, but totally in shambles inside.

This affair went on throughout his life, almost. My parents in law refused to believe that he was being unfair to me, which totally discouraged me.

My formerly simple husband took loans and became more ambitious, began getting distracted from work and neglected it to the point that it reached judicial court.

It turned out, however, that he had been taken advantage of. The night he found out the truth was the same night we found him dead, having committed suicide.

After that, although my husband had died, my troubles hadn’t gone away with his death, they had only been amplified.

I was up to the brim with loans and court cases on my construction company, which I worked hard to clear and emerge successful as I am today.

Today, I am a life coach, helping people like you make the most out of your life, no matter how little you may have.

In the end, all I would like to say is, I have thoroughly enjoyed living my life to the fullest, even though it was filled with a lot of struggles in between. From being a daughter, wife, mother, widow and entrepreneur, life has not been fair.

Checkout: Mindset of Entrepreneurs

But I am proud of the way I presented myself in life, and am proud of the certified life coach that I am today.

I don’t know what you would have done in my place had you lived my life, but I know one thing, and it is that my decision not to cry was the best thing I could have ever done for me, my family and children, and my life.