Family Counseling sees the family as more than a collection of individuals, but as a system with rules and roles for each member. It emphasizes family relationships as central to good psychological health. Family Counseling is a type of counseling that includes the entire family because problems affecting an individual in a family usually impact the entire family. Sometimes families need support as the family grows and changes. Other times, the family is dealing with issues such as behavioral problems, academic issues, divorce, remarriage, or blending families. Family counseling helps all kinds of families to build on their strengths and to locate solutions to their problems.

Family counseling can take a variety of forms. Sometimes it is best to see an entire family for a few sessions. Other times, it may be better to see children and their parents separately. Whatever the format, the goal of family counseling is to identify the dynamics that cause problems and to institute changes in the structure or style of how the family operates. A small change in one area can often have tremendous impact on other areas.

The word family can be highly charged because while many of our problems can stem directly from our family relationships, just as often, the solution to our problems lies within our family relationships. Repeated patterns of negative interactions can be passed down from generation to generation and reinforced over the years, which can be the source of pain and conflict among family members and end up influencing all other relationships. Difficulties resulting from unresolved family of origin issues continue to disrupt present family dynamics. Family Counseling works to reorganize negative or maladaptive patterns of interaction and replace them with new perceptions and responses that allow family members to experiment with new ways of being together, which in turn results in closeness and mutual support.

Oftentimes we have parents calling to make an appointment to help their child or teen deal with certain issues...or help themselves deal with their teen. The teenage years are challenging for teens and their parents. Teens face many new pressures and may not always react in the healthiest ways to the problems they encounter. Parents can help their teens through some of these issues by talking to them, being patient with them, and creating an environment that is structured and supportive.

In some cases, teens may need counseling to help them cope with their problems. Some of the struggles that teens face are a normal part of growing up, like dealing with peer groups, experimenting with new ideas, and going through changes in mood, identity, and interests. In other situations, teens are dealing with thoughts of suicide, the adustment to parents divorcing, cutting/self-mutilation, or aggression. Common issue that are addressed in counseling for teens include: coping with divorce, the loss of a close friend or relative, breakup of a relationship, bullying, abuse, or emotional problems such as depression and grief.

At PSY, your family will have the opportunity to work through various issue with an experienced therapist.