Amal has always loved school. A high school sophomore, she’s student council president, on the soccer team, and takes photos for the student newspaper. Her parents got divorced two years ago, but their split was civil enough, and they set aside time to speak to Amal and her younger brother about what it would mean moving forward.
But recently, dividing time between her parents’ new homes and trying to befriend her soon-to-be step-siblings have taken their toll on her mental health. Amal’s grades are slipping, but her mom is focused on work, and her dad is distracted by planning his wedding. Not wanting to bother them, she convinces herself she can juggle her responsibilities alone.
Then she fails both her chemistry and history midterms and her guidance counselor calls home. At his suggestion, her parents reach out to a board-certified family therapist. Amal is surprised by how comfortable she feels during her first session. She’s able to open up to her parents about school, anxiety, and how helping with her dad’s upcoming wedding stresses her out.
Their therapist recommends letting Amal stay at her mom’s house until the school year is over. Her parents also create a new, more consistent schedule for shared family time. Amal finds it easier to relax now that she’s not bottling up her emotions and opinions.
Do the problems faced by Amal’s family feel familiar? Has your home become filled with tension or nervous energy rather than a refuge from the outside world? Are you at your wit’s end on how to address behavioral problems or mend family relationships?
If you answered yes to any of the above, you could benefit from consulting a mental health professional who specializes in family systems. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Could your family benefit from working with a mental health professional? Consider calling our office at Thriveworks Counseling in Greeley, CO, today. One of our team members can help answer your questions and set up your first appointment.
Can Counseling Help My Family?
You don’t have to wait for every family dinner to end in an argument before considering therapy or counseling sessions. Family therapy is helpful for more than resolving major conflicts or processing challenging experiences.
In reality, families of all types attend group family therapy or counseling appointments for a wide range of issues. Common reasons why families decide to work with a therapist or counselor include:
- Behavioral problems
- Differences in parenting styles
- Opposing values or beliefs
- Major life transitions
- Addiction or substance abuse
- Divorce or separation
- Shared grief or loss
- Division of household labor
- Lack of healthy communication
- Mental health conditions
- Sibling rivalries
You don’t have to wait for tensions within your family to boil over before reaching out for support. If you’ve found a concern in your family’s relationship that needs to be addressed, consider reaching out to Thriveworks Counseling in Greeley, CO.
Family Therapy or Counseling: What To Expect
It’s natural to disagree or get frustrated with one another from time to time. The good news is there are ways to alleviate tension and avoid prolonged conflict within your household. Mental health professionals can make sense of the complicated dynamics at play within your family.
In therapy or counseling sessions, a licensed counselor uses methods such as narrative, transgenerational, strategic, or functional family therapy to address their clients’ concerns. These programs vary in length and format but typically result in happier and more functional family units.
The benefits of therapy and counseling can include:
- Developing healthier boundaries
- Improved communication skills
- Clearly defined roles within family systems
- New perspectives on long-lasting issues
- Ways to address behavior issues before they escalate
- More shared time and activities
Your provider will approach each session with your specific needs in mind. However your sessions evolve, you can anticipate setting reasonable goals, making progress, and nurturing family ties through therapy or counseling.
Schedule Family Therapy Sessions at Thriveworks in Greeley, CO
If you or your family is interested in working with a mental health professional, consider reaching out to Thriveworks Counseling in Greeley, CO. Whether you need temporary or long-term guidance, our family and marriage therapists look forward to working with you.
Appointments are available throughout the week, during evening hours, and on the weekends. New clients can work with a professional within just 24 to 48 hours of reaching out, and many different insurance plans are accepted.
Some families might have trouble attending sessions in person. We provide online appointments via phone calls and video chats in these situations — you can work with a provider from the comfort of your home.
Furthermore, enrolling means:
- 24-hour Q+A service with a life coach
- Exclusive video content
- Text-message assistance for booking and billing
- An e-copy of “Leaving Depression Behind.”
If you want to start working with a relationship counselor or therapist, call our office at Thriveworks Counseling in Greeley, CO, today. One of our scheduling specialists will help you set up an appointment and can answer any questions you have.
