The family unit is one of the strongest relationships you’ll find. However, even the most tight-knit family can experience problems in communication. Sometimes, those problems last a long time, and hurdles seem insurmountable due to the close proximity and familiarity of family members. It may take a professional to get you all back on track to result in more peaceful home life.
That’s where family therapy comes in.
What is Family Therapy?
A form of psychotherapy, family therapy is designed to reduce distress and conflict through the improvement of interactions between family members. Usually, it’s best to have all family members who are affected by the problem in one room; however, this isn’t always feasible. What sets family therapy apart from individual counseling lies in the perspective or framework, not necessarily how many people are present in the session.
Family counseling looks at problems as patterns or systems that need to be adjusted, rather than focusing on one person’s sole role in the problem. This is why it’s often referred to as “strengths-based treatment.” Strong family relationships play a critical in the overall mental health of each family member. This method can be effective in helping family members adjust to another family member’s struggle with an addiction, medical issue or mental health diagnosis, for example. It can also be used to improve communication and reduce conflict.
Common Reasons for Family Therapy
There are many reasons that may prompt you to seek family therapy, including:
- If your child is having a problem with school, substance abuse or an eating disorder.
- If a major trauma or change has impacted the entire family, such as moving, a natural disaster, or incarceration of a sibling or parent.
- The unexpected or traumatic loss of a family member.
- Adjustment to a new family member in the home, such as the birth of a sibling or grandparent moving in.
- Domestic violence
- Divorce
- Parental conflict
Family therapy is a specialized skill set, so if you are in need of this type of therapy, it’s important to choose a mental health professional who has the training and credentials that uniquely qualify them to perform this kind of counseling.
Goals of Family Therapy
Family therapy can be helpful to all family members on many different levels. Family therapy sessions can help:
- Develop and maintain healthy boundaries
- Facilitate cohesion and communication
- Promote problem-solving by a better understanding of family dynamics
- Build empathy and understanding
- Reduce conflict within the family
Contact Comprehensive MedPsych Systems
We offer family therapy services here at Comprehensive MedPsych Systems. A therapist will meet with several members of your family to help you all more thoroughly understand others’ thoughts, motivations, behaviors, and feelings. Therapy is designed to improve communication and increase effective behavior choices, ultimately helping the family unit to function better. To book your appointment, contact us at 941-363-0878 or fill out our online form.