Often, it is a big decision to seek out treatment for the whole family.  Here, I’ll discuss a bit about the way that I work with families and what you can expect if you choose to come in and start the process.

Often the parents are the ones who seek out family therapy when things feel like they’re out of control.  It may look like it’s just one person who has the problem, or sometimes people are able to see how the dynamics between people keep them stuck.  Whether there’s too much arguing inside/outside of the home, parents are feeling overwhelmed by disagreements or people are stuck and unwilling to see things from another persons point of view, family therapy may be able to help.  

It’s important to understand that many things can bring a whole family in for help.  There’s a misconception out there that attending family therapy means the whole family is broken or that things have fallen into a state of total chaos; that’s simply not the case.  I work with wonderful, amazing and loving families who have a wish for a stronger family unit.

Family Therapy takes place when a family makes the decision to live a better life together; that’s it.  There are no requirements, levels of brokenness or expectations that a family must fulfill to get help.  However, it is important that each participating family member be in agreement to be part of the process to improve.  

In my current work, I choose to work with families and members who are over 18. On occasion I’m open to working with highly motivated 16 year olds in a family therapy setting if everyone is agreeable on working together.  

Sessions begin on a weekly basis, at the same time and on the same day each week.  Consistent attendance and involvement is critical.  Additionally, family members must have the felt sense of being “ready” to do this kind of work.  The work often entails reflecting on emotions, behaviors, choices and willingness to do something new. 

On occasion, I will meet with a family who exhibits the “Hurry up and let’s get this over with” mindset. That mindset is a red flag that one or more of the members have not yet reached the stage of readiness necessary to get started and are trying to rush the process.   With me, I expect parents and children alike to look in the mirror and be responsible and accountable without over-personalizing the work or “taking it home.”  At the end of the day, the sessions are intended to be safe and healthy containers to work on very personal and difficult matters.  

The total length of treatment varies and is naturally dependent on how things evolve.  There is no “typical” course of therapy for families but I encourage realistic expectations for families when coming to see me.  It’s often taken a long time for problems to arise, so I ask families to agree to 3 months of uninterrupted weekly therapy to give the work a chance to evolve; that’s 12 sessions.  After those 3 months, we may mutually agree to continue our work together or discontinue. 

Treatment may be as brief as 3 months, or last longer for the family that continues to grow and develop together.  Call now and leave a voicemail to schedule a session. I return calls within 24 hours for scheduling.