What is Family Therapy?

Family therapy or family counseling is a form of treatment that is designed to address specific issues affecting the health and functioning of a family. It can be used to help a family through a difficult period, a major transition, or mental or behavioral health problems in family members

Family therapy is a type of psychotherapy designed to identify family patterns that contribute to a behavior disorder or mental illness and help family members break those habits. Family therapy involves discussion and problem-solving sessions with the family. Some of these sessions may be as a group, in couples, or one on one. In family therapy, the web of interpersonal relationships is examined and ideally communication is strengthened within the family.
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When is it Used?

If your family is experiencing one or more of these symptoms, it may be time to consider engaging the services of a qualified professional therapist.

• There is a significant breakdown in communication between  family members. Do you find it harder to     communicate than usual? Are you experiencing the "silent  treatment" more often than usual?
• Family members are withdrawing from family life. Is there a new pattern of one or more family  members going into seclusion?
• There are symptoms of violence or the threat of violence to oneself or other family members.  Beyond normal "horseplay," do you feel that violence is a problem? Is there a behavior that would be considered "assault" if it     weren't between family members?

• Family members express feelings of helplessness or hopelessness. Do you feel that you have reached the end of your rope? Is coping with the stresses just too much to bear? Do you wonder if your family will ever recover?
• There have been changes in children's behavior at home or at school. Are grades taking a nosedive? What about attendance problems or disruptive behavior at school? Is one of  the  children out of control at home?

• The family has had a traumatic experience and members are having a hard time coping. Has there been a death in the family? A divorce or separation? An affair discovered? Is the family having difficulty adjusting to the new reality?

• Family members have substance abuse problems. Are there challenges with alcohol or drug use? Is there a family member with an eating disorder?
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• Family members have difficulty functioning in their normal  capacity.  Do you feel an  "energy drain" in your family? Things that used to be routine  and normal are now burdensome?
• Family members tend to have extreme emotional reactions. Do members of your family exhibit excessive anger, fear, sadness, ​depression or other emotional  reactions?

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How It Works

Family therapy  involves all members of a nuclear family or stepfamily and, in some cases, members of the extended family(e.g., grandparents). A therapist  conducts multiple sessions to help families deal with important issues that may interfere with he functioning of the family and the home environment.

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What to Expect

Usual goals of family therapy are improving the communication, solving family problems, understanding and handling special family situations, and creating a better functioning home environment.