Family Therapy

Family therapy considers the entire family system, rather than just individual members, which can lead to a more comprehensive and effective approach to addressing problems. Usually one person’s behavior is simply a symptom of the family system. Often families discover there are hidden (or purposefully ignored) thematic pressures/experiences/perspectives that inadvertently enable certain undesired behaviors or outcomes.

By working with the whole family, we can work toward improving the dynamics of the family and adjusting the maladaptive family rules that might be partially responsible for the “stuck-ness” of the undesired behavior. By working with the whole family, we can focus more on becoming a healthy family instead of narrowly fixating on “behavior modification” for one person.

Family therapy can help families improve communication and resolve conflicts, leading to a healthier and more functional family dynamic. Often times, where there’s a reaction, there’s a wound—which can influence the way we communicate. So we have to know where the wounds are, and how to begin to repair them.

Ever wonder why your family is so good at pushing your buttons? It’s because they installed them! And we can work together to heal the emotional and relational injuries that might be underlying the disruptive and dysfunctional communication patterns—so that we can replace those unwanted patterns with more desired interactions. This way everyone can feel safer and more respected.

Family therapy encourages active participation from all family members, which can lead to a sense of empowerment and ownership over the therapy process (especially for those family members who may often feel silenced, ignored, or misunderstood). Just because we belong to the same family, does not mean we experience that family the same way. There are undoubtedly varying perspectives, prejudices, slights, grudges, confusions, passive-aggressive tendencies, domineering entitlements, etc. within the same family—and sometimes it is difficult to know how to handle all this complexity alone. I’m here to help.

Family therapy can be a cost-effective approach, as it allows multiple family members to receive therapy at the same time, reducing the need for separate individual therapy sessions. Obviously, there are real and important benefits to seeking individual therapy, but individual therapy cannot directly address the family dynamics. When the whole family attends therapy together, we can address these family dynamics directly—which is much better for understanding all perspectives in the room—instead of just talking “about” the family dynamics and trying to change them indirectly during individual therapy sessions.

These strengths, among others, make family therapy a valuable and effective approach to improving the well-being and relationships of families.

Family therapy can initially feel intimidating or scary for some people, especially if they know they are partially responsible for contributing to the challenges within their family. However, it's important to remember that the goal of family therapy is to improve relationships and promote healing and growth—including a potential shift in roles, rules, and expectations in the family—so that you can get more of what you want, and less of what you don’t want. With a skilled and compassionate therapist, family therapy can be a safe and supportive environment where family members can work through challenges and learn new skills for improving their family relationships.

In fact, I would expect you to feel at least some anxiety or discomfort at the beginning of therapy, but this often diminishes as the counseling process progresses, and family members begin to feel more comfortable and empowered. A good therapist will make sure that everyone feels heard and respected (and challenged at times too!). I am committed to creating a supportive and non-judgmental environment, so that family therapy becomes a valuable and rewarding experience—leading to lasting positive change for your family.