Family Therapy
Is Your Family Struggling To Communicate?
- Do you and your family members frequently argue and clash over miscommunications?
- Have some of your family members become distant from one another or stopped speaking due to conflicts that seem unresolvable?
- Is your child exhibiting concerning behavioral issues or emotional distress?
Perhaps your family is going through a challenging life transition, like a separation, losing a family member, coming together as a blended family, or a big move to a new location.
Maybe you and your partner have different parenting styles, and you’re worried that the inconsistency is detrimental to your child’s wellbeing. You might be unsure about how to address these issues in a way that feels fair to everyone.
Ongoing Conflicts Can Harm Every Family Member’s Wellbeing
Disruptive family conflicts can upend your routines. For example, you and your child might get frustrated with each other each morning because you feel that your child doesn’t listen to you, leaving you both stressed and irritated through the rest of the day.
Perhaps you and your partner disagree on disciplinary actions, and being at odds with one another only exacerbates your stress. You may have trouble paying attention at work while your child has difficulty concentrating in school, and your relationships outside of your family might suffer as a result.
Sometimes, it might feel like you’ll never be able to heal these family dysfunctions. But even if these issues have persisted for a long period of time, you can overcome these obstacles as a team. A supportive family therapist can help you address the root causes of these tensions, creating a healthier dynamic.
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Do You Have Questions About Family Therapy? Contact Us
It’s Not Easy To Address Problems That Affect The Entire Family Unit
Today, there are countless factors that cause strain within families. Yet our culture discourages families from opening up about their problems and seeking help, which only leaves people feeling alone in facing these challenges.
Many parents struggle to find work-life balance, and keeping up with professional demands makes it harder for them to be present with their children. Parents who are coping with burnout might have trouble being patient with their children, which worsens family communication and deepens feelings of disconnection.
Nowadays, children are also exposed to unrealistic content on social media, which can skew their perceptions of their own family and negatively affect their behavior. They might act out at school or at home because of social media influence, and their parents might not know how to respond because they did not grow up with the same technology.
Furthermore, couples separating and divorcing can strain the family system. Even when separating is for the best, it takes time and patience for family members to adjust to all of the subsequent changes.
Families Often Don’t Know Where To Turn For Help
When a family unit is grappling with conflicts and disagreements, it can be difficult to find genuine solutions because several people need to cooperate while respecting each other’s individual perspectives. Solving problems as a group is always complicated, and parents might feel completely overwhelmed as they try to determine the best path forward.
A therapist can serve as an objective third-party, helping your family members cultivate empathy, commit to fair compromises, and change the way you interact as a unit so that you can deepen your trust in each other and build mutual respect.
With Therapy, You Can Build A Stronger Family Foundation
In family therapy, you’ll be able to examine the behavioral and communication patterns that are driving your family’s problems. Your therapist will take everyone’s varying perspectives into account and help you to better understand each other’s viewpoints while enhancing your communication and conflict-resolution skills.
At Relucent Psychology Group, we work with diverse families, including same-sex couples, families who are living in separate households after divorce, polyamorous couples, and children/teens who self identity within the LGBTQ+ community.
No matter your family structure, or whom you consider family, your therapist will establish a welcoming environment where you can explore underlying issues and develop essential conflict-resolution skills.
What To Expect In Family Therapy Sessions
When you begin working with a family therapist, you’ll discuss as a group what you hope to gain through counseling in the short-term and long-term. Your therapist will ensure that everyone has the chance to express themselves honestly, bringing everyone into the healing process.
In addition to addressing issues affecting your family, you’ll enhance your individual awareness and learn how to set reasonable boundaries while respecting the boundaries of your family members.
You’ll evaluate the way you communicate with each other, reflect on parenting styles and discipline approaches, and identify the various roles that your family members take on.
Over time, you’ll understand how conflicts within your family are often linked to underlying issues, and you’ll be prepared to discuss these issues with greater sensitivity and empathy. With each session, you’ll gain new skills that will help you approach challenges in a constructive way.
Treatment Approaches For Family Therapy
Your therapist will equip you with concrete strategies that you can apply in your daily lives outside of sessions to handle conflicts, maintain healthier family relationships, and support each other even when you disagree.
- In sessions, your therapist will guide you through the conflict-resolution process. You’ll practice using “I” statements to share your opinions during tough conversations so that these discussions don’t lead to blaming individual family members for problems, and your therapist will emphasize the importance of active listening and compromise when it comes to problem-solving.
- It can be hard to stay calm when you’re dealing with family tensions, and in therapy, you’ll hone your emotion regulation techniques and mindfulness skills so that you can remain centered and even-keeled. You will explore when it’s appropriate to take a break from a conversation to temporarily cool down, as well as the makings of a genuine apology and the true meaning of forgiveness.
- Your therapist will help you establish routines that bring you closer as a family. This could include setting up regular family meetings or check-ins, establishing consistent schedules that balance your commitments with time spent together, and cultivating new traditions. Furthermore, by coming up with a family mission statement, you can keep your shared values at the forefront.
As you put these skills into practice, you’ll be able to improve your communication as a family, avoid misunderstandings, apologize sincerely when necessary, and stay grounded while resolving conflicts, allowing you to strengthen your bonds over time.
But You May Still Have Questions About Family Therapy…
Can family therapy really help us solve our problems?
Many families who are initially skeptical about therapy are surprised by how quickly even small changes make a big difference. With guidance from a family therapist, you can uncover and address unhealthy patterns that might be interfering with your relationships. Family therapy isn’t about “fixing” individual people or simply talking through problems. Instead, you’ll learn practical skills that enable you to communicate authentically, resolve conflicts, and reconnect.
What if one of my family members doesn’t want to go to therapy?
Family therapy can still be beneficial even if some family members are reluctant to participate. During your family’s first session, your therapist will create a safe, non-judgmental space that honors everyone’s comfort levels and boundaries. When a therapist grants everyone the opportunity to share their feelings without pressure, even the most hesitant family members will become willing to engage with time.
I’m concerned that a therapist will “take sides” with certain family members.
It’s normal to worry that a counselor might pick sides when every family member brings their own perspectives to sessions. But in sessions, a family counselor provides unbiased support for every family member, allowing everyone to share their points of view while respecting each person’s emotions and needs. They will aim to understand your family’s unique dynamics without assigning blame or choosing sides.
You Can Rebuild Trust Within Your Family Through Counseling
If you’re ready to work together with your family to resolve conflicts and foster a healthier approach to communication, we encourage you to call or text our practice at 408-680-4114 to book a free consultation or schedule your first family therapy session.