What is family therapy?
Family therapy is an opportunity for family members to sit with one another with a trained and licensed professional, to discuss major issues going on within the family unit. These conversations are mediated (observed/guided) by the counselor for issues between siblings, child(ren) & parent(s), child & grandparent(s), etc.
The main goal of family counseling is to identify unhealthy interactions and toxic patterns of behavior in order to create loving, respectful, and productive communication between family members.
The benefits of family counseling can include, but is not limited to the following:
• identifying and implementing healthy boundaries
• improving effective communication
• defining roles and responsibilities within the family
• improving family dynamics and relationships
• providing coping tools for family members
• identifying and addressing unhealthy (sometimes toxic) interactions
• improving the family’s problem-solving abilities
• identifying & addressing mental health issues of family members
• addressing substance addiction
Although families can struggle with a huge array of problems, there are really just a few common, core issues that may be going on:
- Significant problems with a single family member that affects others
- Poor personal boundaries
- Parental inconsistency
- External crises
- Excessive stress
- Instrumental problems (everyday decisions)
- Affective issues (concerns about a family member’s feeling or emotions)
- difficulty communicating and/or expressing emotions
- Sibling conflicts
- Marital tension and problems
- Developing a functional and healthy relationship following a divorce
- Dealing with and accepting a major change
- Coping with a chronic illness and/or death in the family
- Combinations of any listed above