My Family & I Are Looking for Family Counseling.

What Should We Expect?

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The first step when starting any type of counseling is an intake assessment.

Once the session begins, the therapist will be asking you and your family questions, gathering information on any symptoms you and your family are experiencing, and talking about what is currently happening in the relationship that is causing problems.

 

Family therapy is a form of psychotherapy that seeks to reduce distress and conflict by improving the systems of interactions between family members. While our family therapists often seek to have all family members (affected by the problem) in the room, that is not always possible or necessary. 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.”

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“Family” is defined by the modern family therapist as anyone who plays a long-term supportive role in one’s life, which may not mean blood relations or family members in the same household. Family relationships are viewed as important for good mental health, regardless of whether all family members are participating in the therapy.   It is an ideal counseling method for helping family members adjust to an immediate family member struggling with an addiction, medical issue or mental health diagnosis. It is also recommended for improving communication and reducing conflict.

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Other common reasons for seeking family therapy include:

• When a child is having a problem such as with school, substance abuse, or disordered eating

• A major trauma or change that impacts the entire family (i.e. relocation to a new house, natural disaster, incarceration of a family member)

• Unexpected or traumatic loss of a family member

• Adjustment to a new family member in the home (i.e. birth of a sibling, adoption, foster children, a grandparent entering the home)

• Domestic violence

• Divorce

• Parent Conflict

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If you would like some help give us a call at 614-406-0299 we and start the process from there.

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