By Lynn Frank
I was fortunate to attend an open evening of the Familljen Center (Family Centre) in Luxembourg city this month. The centre provides support in the areas of psychotherapy, family mediation, information and support group session and in particular psychological services for the LGBTI+ community. They can work with individuals (adolescents over 16+), couples and families. We met with several of the service’s team who were very welcoming and wanted the international speaking community to know that they can support people in a range of languages (13+) including English. They provide support under the Ministry of Family Affairs therefore their services are not subject to cover by the CNS however they offer a sliding scale for their fees with payment exemptions for minors or for those on a low income.
The team at present includes 11 psychologists/psychotherapists and 3 family mediators.
What is the difference between Psychotherapy and Family Mediation?
Psychotherapy is a type of treatment that can help individuals experiencing a wide array of mental health conditions and emotional challenges. This approach can also be offered to couples and familes when needed . The focus is on providing psychological support .
Mediation
Family mediation is a process that enables families- parents, couples or adult siblings to negotiate future arrangements and come to agreements with the assistance of a neutral third party. This is particularly important for parents who need to agree on furture care and financial support for their children in the case of separation. The mediator, like the psychotherapist, does not tell the parties what to do, but can assist them in reaching amicable agreements while also attempting to improve communication between them. In some cases receiving mediation is a prerequisite of the family court judge. The focus is on working towards a written agreement between the parties, this may include some practical support with the legal system in Luxembourg or parenting through separention and divorce. Mediation can also lead to the provision of couple/family therapy if needed.
Other services provided by the Family Centre
Since 2020 the Family Centre has been mandated by the Ministry of Family Affairs to provide psychological support for people who identify as LGBTI. This support can also be provided for adolescents under the age of 16 without parental consent. The centre also provides several information sessions and support groups throughout the year including sessions on parental burn out, couple and family life and yoga for parents & kids and a mens group (only in French at present).They include listings and dates/times of these events on thei website.
Waiting for Appointments
Although there maybe a waiting list for appointments they do try to keep these to the
minimum and will prioritise people presenting with an urgent need of support. It is
possible to meet with them face to face or on zoom.
The website is in French and German (at present) https://www.familljen-center.lu but you can contact them directly at at info@familljen-center.lu or call +352 47 45 44. Opening times for the reception are included on the website.
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