When issues involve other members of your household, family therapy is an effective option to improve the relationships between the parties involved. A family therapist doesn’t take sides during therapy, even though the therapist may also see family members individually. The goal is to talk through issues openly and honestly, so you and your family can live and function better.
A family therapist does not criticize, blame, or take sides during family therapy. The therapist helps the family become more aware of subtle dynamics that may be the source of persistent tensions and power struggles. Of particular importance is learning how such patterns were put in place and examining what hidden “rewards” accompany certain problematic behaviors.
There are a lot of reasons a family may need therapy. When families are navigating big life changes—such as a death, divorce, financial struggles—counseling can be a helpful way to get all parties involved in a healthy manner. It’s also a great option when one or more member of the family is facing personal struggles, such as addiction, and needs the emotional support of the entire family unit. When working either with individuals or entire families during counseling, the therapist brings a less biased third party perception to the situation. Issues which may seem impossibly complicated within the closed system of a family may “open up” when working with a trained family therapist.
