What is Family Therapy?
There are certain times in family relationships when certain life stresses
create a need for help from outside of the family. Family therapy helps family
members to move beyond the paralysis sometimes created by difficult issues to
a place where they are able to work through the issue from a team perspective.
As each family is unique, I believe each family’s therapeutic experience is
also unique. The therapist role I take on my vary depending on the needs of the
family. These roles may include facilitator, guide, coach, explorer, educator,
and sometimes referee. In order for therapy to be most effective, family
members are encouraged to develop their own goals in therapy and together we
explore how each member’s strengths can be drawn upon as the family works
towards attaining these goals.
Whether working with a parent and child or a family of five with the children
grown up and living on their own, I am always fascinated by the creative ways
families are able to grow closer to one another and conquer issues that could
have pulled them apart.
Here are some of the issues and concerns family members may bring to therapy:
- Communication difficulties
- Conflict resolution
- Coping after separation or divorce
- Abuse (verbal, emotional, physical, or sexual)
- Sibling rivalry
- Adoption
- Boundary issues
- Growing up with your children
- Trust
- Drug and alcohol use
- Sexual exploration
- School concerns
- Bullying or being bullied
- Family expectations (chores, household rules, extracurricular, etc.)
- Coping with family changes (new in-laws, births, deaths, moving, etc.)
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