Family therapy is a great way to help rebuild relationships by learning new ways of problem solving and communication techniques. Family is important to our mental health and if there is tension, therapy can be a great resource to address pain and heal a families wounds. What distinguishes family therapy from individual counseling is its perspective or framework, not how many people are present at the therapy session. This type of counseling views problems as patterns or systems that need adjusting, as opposed to viewing problems as residing in the person, which is why family therapy is often referred to as a “strengths based treatment.”  People who participate in family therapy sessions learn more about themselves and about how their family functions.

Goals of a Family Therapist

• To work together to heal any mental, emotional, or psychological problems tearing your family apart. (Lee, 2010)
• Help the family focus less on the member who has been identified as the scapegoat and focus more on the family as a whole
• Strengthens all family members so they can work on their problems together
• Teach ways to handle conflicts and changes within the family differently
• Teach families to properly communicate and develop new coping strategies
• Repair fragmented relationships and help families to bond
• Allow each family member to have a safe place to really express themselves and hear one another
• Improve relationships between parents and children
• Teach parenting techniques
• and so many more

Common Reasons to seek Family Therapy

• A major trauma or change that impacts the entire family
• Unexpected or traumatic loss of a family member or pregnancy
• Adjustment to a new family member in the home
• Domestic violence, sexual abuse, neglect
• Divorce, separation, relocation, or blended family adjustments
• Substance abuse or mental health concerns
• Behavioral issues and academic concerns in children and adolescents
• Parent conflict, sibling rivalry, parent/child conflict
• Chronic illness