What is family therapy?
Family therapy helps families resolve conflicts and strengthen their relationships. It is led by qualified mental health professionals like psychologists, licensed professional counselors (LPCs), and licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) who have extensive training in family dynamics and group communication.
How does family therapy work?
Thriveworks family therapists in Joliet, IL usually begin by asking what everyone’s goals are for family counseling. Family members may need help with very specific issues or with general relationship functioning. But there are three main purposes in family counseling: to educate, to counsel, and to strengthen. Thriveworks also offers online family therapy and in-person services, so you may all meet in an office together or join a video call from your home depending on everyone’s location and availability.
What is the most effective family therapy?
The most effective form of Family therapy will often depend on the family itself, as there are many types of family therapy for therapists to use as they see fit in order to best meet the needs of their clients. However, one of the most commonly used types of family therapy is structural family therapy (SFT). SFT focuses specifically on family dynamics and interactions, looking at how they shape the relationships and structure present in the family. It can be effectively used to treat a variety of concerns.
How do I know if my family needs therapy?
This answer often looks different to each family that starts family therapy. However, some signs that your family might need to consider family counseling include frequent fights or misunderstandings, constant tension, experiencing loss, behavioral issues, marital issues, divorce, and blended family issues, among others.
What is included in family therapy?
In family therapy, therapists will often start by asking questions and assessing individual and family dynamics. From there, they may employ therapeutic techniques such as structured family therapy, CBT, strategic family therapy, and more depending on the present concerns and conflicts. From there, a therapist will work to open lines of communication between family members and facilitate emotional healing and growth.
What is the success rate of family therapy?
Family therapy can be incredibly successful, with some studies reporting a success rate of almost 90% for improving participants’ emotional and mental health, and around 66% for improving their physical health.
Is family therapy conducted in person or online?
Thriveworks therapists in Joliet, IL offer both online family therapy and in-person family therapy. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
How long does family therapy last?
Family therapy is usually short term and solution-focused, with most families accomplishing their goals in 12 sessions or fewer. However, it can also last for longer if the probles at hand are more complex — and that’s okay, too.
Need more help deciding?
For many of us, family life can be difficult to navigate. It’s important to stop negative dynamics and actions before they start to damage relationships. And at Thriveworks in Joliet, IL, our family counselors can help you and your relatives to find common ground again, and to enjoy healthier methods of communication. Reach out today to get started.
Uninsured residents can access Thriveworks’ mental health services here, while residents with insurance can schedule an appointment here (where any out-of-pocket expenses will be covered).
Should Your Family See a Family Counselor?
Families are a source of companionship and support, as well as comfort and respect. However, when these close relationships turn sour, boundaries of respect and healthy communication can be crossed. Still, there’s no universal method for determining if your family needs relationship counseling, but some common signs and warnings include:
- Stress from caring for a disabled or elderly member
- Deaths within the family that have occurred without time to process the event
- One or more family members struggling with PTSD
- Undiagnosed behavioral issues
- Residual anger or resentment between relatives over perceived wrongs or shortcomings
- Communication skills that aren’t fully developed, resulting in constant arguments and bickering
- Addiction to drugs or alcohol in response to stress
- Untreated or potentially undiagnosed mental illness or disorders that family members are suffering from, like ADHD or depression
How Does Family Therapy Work?
Common fears include being ostracized from other relatives by the counselor, or that the counselor will choose sides or chastise them for their shortcomings. The reality is that our mental health professionals at Thriveworks in Joliet, IL aren’t going to judge you or try to divide you all. Instead, their interests are to highlight the positive aspects of your relationships by helping you work through negative situations. Teaming up with a family counselor can be a great way to:
- Strengthen your relationship with your loved ones by utilizing a safe space for each of you to speak candidly about your experience
- Foster compassion and encourage compromise toward one another
- Improve your communication skills and become a better listener
- Create stronger boundaries of respect and encourage compromise
- Get treatment for previously undiagnosed mental illness
Take advantage of a counselor’s presence. A neutral third party allows for more balanced dialogue and candid discussion between family members. Our family therapists at Thriveworks in Joliet, IL are here to help you.
Schedule a Family Therapy Session Today at Thriveworks in Joliet, IL
We understand that you might still feel uncertain about talking with a family counselor about your private family life. But rest assured, their number one goal is promoting better mental health for you and your family. Plus, our family counseling services are also available virtually. If you and your family members are separated by distance, come together as a group for online counseling with your provider.
As long as everyone has reliable internet and somewhere private to attend the session, you’re set. And, you can attend counseling at ease, knowing that your personal information will be kept confidential—online counseling still follows the same strict guidelines from the APA and HIPAA as our in-person sessions.
Hostility, resentment, and anxiety don’t need to rule the interactions between you and your loved ones. Work with us at Thriveworks in Joliet, IL. One of our family counselors is waiting, and with their support, your family can enjoy healthier relationships and better mental health. Uninsured residents can access Thriveworks’ mental health services here, while residents with insurance can schedule an appointment here (where any out-of-pocket expenses will be covered).
