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.
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.
Have you ever had regrets about the way a friendship ended or a conversation went? Have you ever spent time thinking about how a change in perspective might have been the difference between an argument that ended in screaming and one that ended peacefully?
If you and your loved ones are facing challenges, conflicts, or major life transitions, a family therapist can help you traverse those situations delicately and effectively so you can leave those regrets and “what ifs” behind you. Under the guidance of a trained professional, you can have the chance to mend old wounds, open up lines of communication, and build stronger family ties for a brighter future together. When you’re ready to give your family relationships the care and attention they deserve, consider meeting with a family therapist at Thriveworks in Seattle, WA. We look forward to helping you and your family members thrive.
What Specific Issues Do Family Therapists Address?
Every family has its share of problems. But sometimes, those ups and downs can be particularly challenging: The downs can start to outweigh the ups, long-standing issues can breed resentment, and it can be difficult to respond with grace and patience.
If your family is facing a challenge, there’s a good chance it falls into one of the categories listed below:
- Child behavioral problems: These may stem from bullying or abuse or from mental health issues such as ADHD. Child behavioral issues can also be tied to communication issues, sibling rivalry, stress, illnesses, substance abuse, addiction, and genetics.
- Parent or guardian issues: Divorce, separation, or arguments between parents or guardians can have huge repercussions for the entire family system.
- Life planning, transitions, and major life changes: Things like family planning and financial uncertainty fall under this category. But so do big life events such as going off to college, changing schools, moving, or experiencing the loss of a loved one or job.
- Different opinions and world views: This can be about anything from religion to politics to gender identity and sexual orientation.
- Health issues: The mental or physical health of one or more members of the family can impact everyone. Depression, anxiety, and other medical issues may need to be addressed as a family.
If any of these challenges sound familiar to you, consider scheduling a session with us at Thriveworks in Seattle, WA. We’ll speak with you and your loved ones and come up with a solution that addresses your specific issues.
What to Expect During Family Therapy Sessions
No matter the type of therapy that’s selected, you can be sure that your therapist, counselor, or another mental health professional will do all that they can to foster a safe and open environment. You can expect your family to take away a variety of skills and benefits including:
- Productive communication
- Engaged listening
- Increased empathy
- Improved problem-solving
- Clearer and healthier boundaries
- Higher levels of trust and appreciation
- Coping strategies
- Ownership of behaviors
These skills and benefits may be established through narrative therapy, play therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or other forms of therapy. They may also be the result of in-session exercises such as the miracle question, mirroring, and role-playing. Your therapist or counselor at Thriveworks in Seattle, WA may even assign you out-of-session tasks to complete as part of your therapy.
Start Working With a Family Counselor in Seattle, WA
We urge you to speak with your family about the positive impacts of therapy. Trying something different can be intimidating but our professionals are trained to create comfortable environments that give each family member a chance to feel heard and understood.
Our professional psychiatric providers, counselors, therapists, and other providers are available to speak with you in person or online. If you’d like, you can even schedule appointments during the evenings or weekends. To make things simpler, we accept insurance from many different providers and offer a flexible cancellation policy.
Long-term and short-term care is available for you and your family. Whatever your goals, we want to help you achieve them. Contact us at Thriveworks in Seattle, WA to set up an appointment today.
