Everyone has been there — what was supposed to be a nice family evening out turned into a night of bickering at the restaurant table. Or the car ride to the Christmas party felt like the tensest 30 minutes of the year because communication completely broke down while everyone was getting ready.
Family relationships are filled with these everyday moments of stress and disagreement. It’s completely and totally natural. Part of being in a family means continuing to love each other, even when you may not like each other in the moment. There’s the knowledge that whatever’s going on, you’ll get through it at the end of the day and still be a family.
But what if the issues you encounter are persistent and feel almost impossible to get through? It could be that unspoken issue with years of resentment baked into it that everyone is too afraid to bring up. It could be that you’re dealing with a family member struggling with mental illness, anger issues, or addiction. Or maybe you’re having a difficult time blending families after a remarriage.
Whatever the case may be, you don’t have to navigate your family problems on your own. At Thriveworks Counseling in Bismarck, ND, our licensed mental health professionals are trained to deal with complicated and messy issues. We’re here to offer you clarity, compassion, and a way forward for your family.
When Is the Right Time To Seek Family Therapy?
It’s not too hard to tell when something is off with your family, especially if you’re living in the same space. You might be fighting more or not talking to each other at all. You may tiptoe around certain topics. But when does a tense household become a household that should go to therapy?
There’s no threshold of conflict you need to meet for your family to benefit from family counseling. Family therapists are equipped with the expertise to deal with all sorts of family issues, including:
- Financial problems
- Grief or loss of a loved one
- A family member struggling with mental illness, like depression or substance abuse
- Anger or stress issues
- Ongoing conflicts between family members
- Separation or divorce
- Blended families
- Behavioral issues
The specific issues your family faces may or may not fall under one of these categories. Whatever the case may be, our family therapists are trained to unearth the root of your problems, consider everyone’s point of view, and help you figure out long-term solutions.
We also understand that going to family therapy is not just the decision of one person, but rather an agreement between multiple members of the family. If one or more of your family members is resistant to therapy, we encourage patience and understanding as they learn more about what therapy entails.
When your family is ready to get started, we’re here to help. Reach out to us at Thriveworks in Bismarck, ND to schedule an appointment.
How Does Family Therapy Work?
During family therapy, your counselor will take into consideration the needs and specific issues of your family during each session. What exactly the therapy sessions look like will be unique to your family.
However, there is a basic structure of family counseling that your sessions are likely to follow. Your therapist or counselor will hear about the issues you’re facing from each member of the family to best understand everyone’s perspective and the nature of the problem. From there, your provider will develop a treatment plan focused on improving the situation; the goal isn’t to necessarily figure out who is to blame as much as it is identifying solutions, skills, and techniques to take into the future.
Family therapy is usually designed for short-term treatment but the length of your treatment will ultimately depend on your family’s needs and goals.
Attending therapy doesn’t mean your problems will magically go away. However, it does mean that you and your family can learn the strategies to work through issues in a healthy and productive way. These strategies will likely focus on elements such as:
- Communicating openly
- Building trust
- Listening actively
- Managing stress and anger
- Tolerating distress
Our Thriveworks therapists and counselors in Bismarck, ND are committed to empowering you with these tools so your family can feel more confident in handling any issues they face, both now and in the future.
Schedule a Family Therapy Appointment at Thriveworks in Bismarck, ND
If your family was physically ill, you wouldn’t hesitate to go to the doctor for help. The mental health of your family is just as important. You can schedule an appointment by calling or clicking today. With in-person and online availability on nights and weekends, your family could see a provider in as little as 48 hours.
We accept most major insurance carriers and offer affordable rates for those paying out of pocket. We also offer a suite of perks including exclusive video content and our Therapy Buddy app to help supplement your appointments.
When your family is ready to schedule an appointment, our family therapists and counselors are standing by to help. Call or click today to set up an appointment at Thriveworks in Bismarck, ND. We look forward to helping you thrive.
