Family Therapy is good for families of all kinds. You might be wondering if it’s right in your situation. It is often more effective than ignoring problems or hoping they will “just go away” on their own.
Does your family deal with any of these situations?
If your answer to any of them is yes, let’s explore how family therapy can be there for you.
As members of the family, you all might be too close to the situation. We use our best intentions of “solve” or change the dynamics of the family and it doesn’t always work. By bringing in a trained family counselor, you are setting up a team, dedicated to the mental health and growth of all members. It is a holistic approach that doesn’t just address the issues of one member. It considers and improves the overall functioning and well-being of the entire family.
Family therapy for young children with behavioral issues involves several key approaches, each tailored to help the family unit as a whole, while addressing the specific needs of the child.
Working together, as a family, can benefit all members of the family. Everyone in the family will have a voice and be heard. This holistic approach recognizes the family dynamics and how they contribute to the behavior of every member of the family.
Sharing the child’s experiences and struggles, in a non-judgmental setting, can clear up misunderstandings and conflicts and can reduce conflicts. Patterns in family behaviors can be identified and addressed with all members of the family.
Family therapy not only supports the child, it also enhances the overall functioning and well-being of the entire family.
Schedule Online—easy & secure!
What do you do your teen won’t interact with family, friends or classmates? You’ve tried to talking with him/her and all it does is lead to arguments or sullen silence. Then there is the “shut down” of all communication. You realize it’s impacting the whole family.
A counselor can bring in an unbiased point of view and can offer some key steps.
For parents, it’s important to be part of your teen’s counseling journey. Not only will your teen learn better, healthier ways to deal with the changes in their lives, all members of the family will benefit in a happier, calmer and more stable environment.
Blending two families can bring both the highest of joys and the lowest of frustration. There are so many changes to deal with, and they can be overwhelming at times.
Some of the key points counseling can assist with are:
Counseling can help blended families navigate the complexities of their new dynamics. Communication can be improved, roles and boundaries are established. The end result is a strong, cohesive family unit.
Losing a loved one can be hard to process alone. When it is a family member someone important to the family, it can be hard to reconcile. Counseling for the family can provide a supportive space to process the emotions and communicate effectively. We all grieve differently and there can be the need to work through the process in different ways for each member of the family.
There may be a medical diagnosis for a family member that can impact the family as this progresses.
Counseling will help strengthen the family bonds learn coping skills and navigate the changes that impact the whole family.
Families are not always ready to face both an unexpected loss. Grief can be shown in different ways for different people. Some may show extreme sadness, others may be angry, bitter or feel guilt as part of the process. Some of the responses a counselor can support are:
Divorce is hard for everyone involved. Not only are the adults dealing with massive life changes, the children of divorce also feel the impact. Parents should look at family therapy process as a way to better handle some of these points:
Family therapy offers those involved in the divorce with a way of moving forward, with the tools and skills to make this a less stressful part of the process. Proactive counseling can prevent potential future emotional or behavioral issues in the children.
Schedule Online—easy & secure!
The impact of aging parents on a family encompasses many different issues. They can be emotional, physical, financial and social. There can be complex role changes, increase in responsibilities, and these can lead to stress and conflict. Counseling and external support systems help navigate through this such as:
Family Therapy is there for you to find the support you need as your parents age. If you are not taking care of yourself, how can you care for your parents? Your mental health and well-being is important to maintain. It can also bring families close and prompt personal growth for you and family members. You may learn some wonderful things about your parents you never knew before as you spend the time together.
As we get older, sometimes the relationship with our parents feels like it hasn’t changed since you were a teenager, living at their home. The relationship is multifaceted. In order to maintain a healthy and supportive relationship, it takes a proactive and empathetic approach. Some situations to address are:
By setting up open communication, setting boundaries and seeking out professional help, you can make the adult child and parent relationship even more fulfilling and healthier. With the help of your family counselor, you can establish and maintain the kind of relationship you both want.
Being in a family can have it’s challenges, so let’s make it as easy as possible. For family dynamics to stay positive and health, it may take the trained support from a family therapist.
Remember, it’s perfectly fine to collaborate with a family therapist for learning new emotional tools and better communication.
To be as accommodating as possible for those seeking family therapy, Pathways Counseling Services provides:
You may do this in three ways.
You can book online anytime
Call us at 480-613-8530
Complete this contact form.
Yes, we offer a free 15-minute telephone consultation. Please call us at 480-613-8530 to schedule a consultation or complete this contact form.
Our practice is a “Fee-For-Service” practice which means we DO NOT accept insurance. If you have an insurance provider with behavioral health coverage, they may offer “out-of-network” coverage. If you would like to use your “out-of-network” benefits, we will provide you with a superbill (receipt) monthly that you can submit to your insurance company for “out-of-network” reimbursement.
Prior to your first session, you will fill out some general information. We will you a link to complete the form(s) prior to your first session.
During the initial appointment, we will review some of your histories and we will have an opportunity to discuss the reasons you are interested in counseling and the goals you are looking to achieve from counseling.
Together during the first few sessions we will put together a treatment plan with you.
Most patients come in for weekly appointments. As you are feeling better, you can cut back on the frequency of the sessions so you have more time to practice what you are learning.
Initial sessions are 75 minutes ongoing sessions may be 45-75 minutes or longer depending on need.
Patients who work with us report improvements in a few sessions. More difficult issues may take longer. People come to therapy for different reasons but universally people don’t initiate counseling unless they are in some type of emotional pain. Our attitude is to try to make every session count.
We welcome couples, children, adolescents, teens, and individuals of diverse backgrounds, cultures, religious traditions, and lifestyles.
We will be able to work with you using a variety of tools and techniques and specialize in a variety of issues and concerns.
All client-therapist conversations are private and confidential. In those rare exceptions when the safety of a client or other is at risk disclosure of confidential client-therapist information takes place.