Family Support

Family Therapy

I approach family therapy from a Family Systems perspective. Just as all members of a team work and function best as a unit, so it is with the family. We are all parts of multiple systems, and the family we grow up in is our first system. The family is a crucible in which we learn to live, react, and function. We learn our vocabulary, our habits, our customs, and rituals, and how to view and observe the world around us from our family. The things we learn in the family we grow up in (our “family of origin”) continue to impact all our other relationships for the rest of our lives. Sadly, we also know that family can be a source of pain and even anguish. 

No family is perfect. Every family experiences its share of conflict, stress and even pain from time to time. When the family is experiencing overwhelming difficulty, family counseling is a supportive step on the path to healing and thriving. Family therapy provides a space for honesty, empathy, and adjustment that can benefit every member of a family, providing a firm foundation for building and maintaining strong, supportive relationships. 

Common reasons for seeking family counseling include:

  • Communication 

  • Establishing Family Roles

  • Setting House Rules

  • Divorce

  • Blended Family 

  • Parent-Child Conflict

  • Sibling Dislike 

  • Unexpected or Traumatic Loss of a Family Member

  • Withdrawn Teenagers

  • Managing Mental Illness

  • Families with Disabilities

  • Parent Alcoholism

  • Conflict Resolution

  • Discipline and Grace

  • Relational/Life Transitions

  • Multi-Cultural Issues

  • Trauma

Some positive family therapy outcomes are:

  • Strategies to develop and maintain healthy boundaries

  • Fosters a sense of cohesion and communication among family members

  • Promotes problem-solving through an understanding of family patterns and dynamics

  • Builds empathy and understanding

  • Reduces family conflict

  • Defines roles within the family, reducing conflict

  • Identifies and heals unresolved hurts

  • Teaches families what to do when things get hard

If you are seeking healthier, closer family relationships, take the first step by contacting me today to make an appointment for family counseling.