Family Therapy
Sometimes there are issues that affect the entire family system for which people seek therapeutic help. Coming for therapy as a family allows the family members to develop communications skills, to break out of unhealthy patterns, to deepen understanding of themselves and other family members, and to repair relationships that may have become difficult within the family over time. Whether the family is raising small children or negotiating the development of teenagers, some find family therapy to be a primary option for addressing conflicts in the home.
Family therapists view families from a system’s perspective. That is, a family is a system in which all the members influence each other. By viewing the family in this way, a therapist can help a family understand issues they may be facing from a more objective viewpoint. By focusing on the current issue and the family system, therapists can help family members better learn how to deal with the often complex and difficult to navigate interactions. Problem solving in this way is a more creative and expansive process. It can be a relief to bring in a new viewpoint and new options for how to approach issues in a family.
A family therapist will begin working by starting a family assessment. It will be important to understand what the problems are and how they create patterns of distress in the family from both a current and past perspective. Once problems and patterns are identified, the therapist will work to help the clients to envision how they would like to see the family make changes. The process continues with sessions around how things are going, practicing new communication styles, confirmation that the new direction is helping and identifying any other issues that need to be addressed. Call today to explore whether family therapy is right for you.
