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Family Counseling

The Church’s family counselling service provides professional support for issues related to relationships and family life, as well as situations of crisis. Family counsellors and receptionists are bound by professional confidentiality, and all services are confidential.

Get in contact with our service
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Church family counselling

The family counselling's clients come from South Ostrobothnia and the near surroundings.

What is the church family counselling?

The church family counselling is a professional service for issues related to relationships and family life, as well as life crises. Family counsellors and receptionists are bound by professional confidentiality, and all services are confidential. You can come to the counselling alone, with your partner, or with your family.

Is the service subject to charge?

The visits at the counselling centre for family matters are free of charge. The Church offers the service for free. 

Possible reasons for seeking family counseling
  • challenging interactions
  • questions regarding intimacy and sexuality
  • divorce mediation and support for co-parenting
  • crises and changes related to life stages and relationships
  • childlessness
  • parenting support
  • family mediation during a separation
  • problems in family and other close relationships
  • domestic violence
  • psychosocial challenges in a relationship
Identifying the right kind of assistance with a service coordinator

Before the family counselling begins, a discussion is held under the guidance of the service coordinator.

Session with a family counsellor

You can come to the session alone, with your partner, or together with the whole family. The appointment can take place in person or remotely, by phone or video call.  

How long does a session with a family counselor last?

Individual counselling sessions last 45–60 minutes, and we set aside one to one-and-a-half hours for couples. The number of sessions is determined in consultation with the family counsellor.

A woman and a man stand side by side. An autumn landscape is in the background. The woman is wearing an orange shirt and the man is wearing a blue shirt with a floral pattern.

South Ostrobothnia Family Counselling Centre

The family counselling centre is located in Seinäjoki, while subsidiary offices can be found in Alajärvi, Alavus, Kauhajoki and Kauhava. The South Ostrobothnia family counselling centre comprises 21 member parishes, which cover the costs of family counselling.

Seinäjoki Office Point

The family counselling centre is located in Seinäjoki at Kalevankatu 12 b C 1. Access via staircase B or through the rear entrance on the second-floor courtyard level, where the entrance to the Family Counselling Centre is located.

Subsidiary counselling locations
  • Alajärvi.
    • Consultations on Tuesdays.
    • The office is located in Kirkkotie 6 in the Alajärvi Parish Hall next to the church. Entrance at the left end, from the side of the centre.
  • Alavus
    • Consultations on Tuesdays.
    • The office is located in Louontie 1 A 1, in the new office building of the Alavus Parish, known as Kirkkopiha. Entrance at the end of the building facing the church, with a separate entrance to family counselling via the diaconal office door.
  • Kauhajoki
    • Consultations on Thursdays.
    • The office is located in Kyntäjäntie 1, in the corner of the office building of the Kauhajoki Parish, at the end of the building facing Topeeka. Family counselling shares the same entrance and waiting area as the diaconal office.
  • Kauhava
    • Consultations on Thursdays.
    • The office is located in Kauppapassi 3. For family counselling, go through the main entrance, then to waiting area 2, room 126. 
Member parishes
  • Alajärvi
  • Alavus
  • Evijärvi
  • Ilmajoki
  • Isojoki
  • Isokyrö
  • Karijoki
  • Kauhajoki
  • Kauhava
  • Kuortane
  • Kurikka
  • Laihia
  • Lappajärvi
  • Lapua
  • Parkano
  • Seinäjoki
  • Soini
  • Teuva
  • Vimpeli
  • Virrat
  • Ähtäri

Family counselling courses and peer support groups

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Family counsellors

  • Close-up portrait of a person with short blonde hair, pearl earrings, and a gold necklace.

    Family counsellor

    Anne Bexar

    Family Counseling Center, Seinäjoki Parish | Family counselling

  • A person with a blonde bob haircut, partially tied back, wearing a white shirt and a silver heart-shaped necklace.

    Service Coordinator

    Rea Leskinen

    Family Counseling Center, Seinäjoki Parish | Family counselling

  • Family Counsellor, Director of the Counselling Centre

    Markku Orsila

    Family Counseling Center, Seinäjoki Parish | Family counselling

    On leave of absence. Substitute contact: Riikka Uuksulainen, Director of the Family Counselling Centre.

  • Close-up portrait of a person with short hair and blue-framed glasses.

    Family Counsellor

    Jukka Salomäki

    Family Counseling Center, Seinäjoki Parish | Family counselling

  • A person with long wavy light brown hair and glasses.

    Acting Director of the Counselling Centre

    Riikka Uuksulainen

    Family Counseling Center, Seinäjoki Parish | Family counselling

  • A person with long dark hair and glasses. They are wearing silver earrings.

    Family Counsellor

    Tuire Wuorijärvi

    Family Counseling Center, Seinäjoki Parish | Family counselling