Family Therapy
Many families experience a period when they feel like they are not getting along or when there are problems.
Problems that can be addressed in family therapy include:
- Excessive fighting in the family
- A general feeling that the family does not get along
- Frequent experiences of hurtful behavior between family members
- Dealing with a family crisis or important life change (like a new baby, a move, a loss or death in the family)
- A health problem in a family member
- Family member’s behavior feels out of control
- Lack of respect among family members, like between parents and children/adolescents
Family therapy can:
- Teach family members ways to talk to each other without fighting
- Help family members heal from hurtful interactions
- Provide opportunities for each person to feel cared about and listened to
- Help family members learn skills about how to get along
Because families are so important to us, it can be painful when they are the source of stress and hurt. Sometimes, in order to heal ourselves, it becomes a priority to strive to improve family relationships and interactions.
Including the family in treatment is important because we know that there is an effect of family member’s problems on the rest of the family. For example, parents and siblings are affected by upset in a child or adolescent; and there is clear evidence that parental emotional upset impacts the children. Temper tantrums and other behavior problems affect the family environment. Withdrawal from the family and isolation are often accompanied by concern on the part of family members, parents and siblings alike. In the same way, parent behaviors, such as irritability leading to angry outbursts or agitation, impact the children and spouse. Children and adolescents worry about a parent who cannot get out of bed due to depression or who worries obsessively.
Family therapy can be a valuable treatment approach. It offers the opportunity to work out the problem relationships face-to-face as well as to help family members learn new ways to communicate and show caring and support.
