FAMILY PSYCHOTHERAPY

Given the importance of understanding and addressing the larger social environment, family therapy (also called “family counseling”) can be helpful on its own or as part of a family member’s individual therapy plan.

What Is Family Therapy?

Family therapy can be used even when it seems the problem lies predominantly with one individual in the family. This is because in family therapy, individual problems are viewed in the context of the larger family system. Your child’s problems don’t exist in a vacuum; they likely are coming from the dynamics of the family. For example, children sometimes act out behaviorally in an attempt to divert attention away from a conflict between mom and dad.

While individual therapy takes a narrow focus, family counseling has a wider lens and views all issues — including those of the individuals in the family — as relational, that is, stemming from and impacting the wider family system. Even when it seems only one person is struggling, the focus is on everyone.

How Can Family Therapy Help?

All families experience some challenges, stress or conflict to varying degrees from time to time. The key to moving past these issues and maintaining an emotionally healthy family unit is the ability to understand and identify the needs of the individual members and balance those with the well-being of the family unit. Family counseling can facilitate this process, improving communication and behavior within the family unit.

Studies show that family therapy is an effective method for solving certain problems within families of all sizes. It has proven to help families come to grips with traumatic events (such as a death) and has helped families deal with mental and behavioral problems along with myriad other issues such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, substance abuse, depression, marital problems, and more. In cases where substance abuse is affecting one family member, many families choose to organize an intervention and then seek help together as a family.

When couples are struggling with intimacy, it often impacts other areas of their relationship as well which can lead to bickering and fighting. This type of strain on a relationship can affect the whole family. Family therapy can be the key to reconnecting with your partner physically and emotionally. A family therapist can provide the counseling necessary to help you and your partner — and, in turn, your entire family — heal.

Family therapy sessions can address an array of issues, including: 

• Parent-child conflict

• Adoption, step-parenting and blended families

• Family communication problems

• Defiant, angry or isolated children

• Caring for aging family members

• Loss and mourning

What About Parenting Support?

Parenting doesn’t come with a handbook. Even if it did, new and changing circumstances often throw you a curveball. We offer parenting support for all ages and stages of your child’s life, from early childhood through adolescence. 

In these sessions, we can help you understand the developmental and/or environmental factors that might be influencing your child’s moods and behaviors—and provide you with tools to better manage these challenges.

Our parenting support sessions can address a variety of issues, including:

• Age-appropriate discipline

• Boundary-setting

• Step-parenting and blended families

• Coping with your children’s mood swings and erratic behavior

• Older children moving back home

• Dual-household families as a result of divorce or separation

You don’t have to go this alone. 

*In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we continue to offer telemental health sessions.*

If you’re interested in learning more about individual psychotherapy,  adolescent psychotherapy, child psychotherapy, psychoanalysis or couples therapy, please contact us by submitting this form, or by phone at 847-729-3034. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.