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4,039 people sought family therapy help in California in the last year

Discover how starting family therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

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Starting Family therapy

What is family therapy?

Family therapy helps families resolve conflicts and strengthen their relationships. It is led by qualified mental health professionals like psychologists, licensed professional counselors (LPCs), and licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) who have extensive training in family dynamics and group communication.

How does family therapy work?

Thriveworks family therapists in Irvine, CA usually begin by asking what everyone’s goals are for family counseling. Family members may need help with very specific issues or with general relationship functioning. But there are three main purposes in family counseling: to educate, to counsel, and to strengthen. Thriveworks also offers online family therapy and in-person services, so you may all meet in an office together or join a video call from your home depending on everyone’s location and availability.

What is the most effective family therapy?

The most effective form of Family therapy will often depend on the family itself, as there are many types of family therapy for therapists to use as they see fit in order to best meet the needs of their clients. However, one of the most commonly used types of family therapy is structural family therapy (SFT). SFT focuses specifically on family dynamics and interactions, looking at how they shape the relationships and structure present in the family. It can be effectively used to treat a variety of concerns.

How do I know if my family needs therapy?

This answer often looks different to each family that starts family therapy. However, some signs that your family might need to consider family counseling include frequent fights or misunderstandings, constant tension, experiencing loss, behavioral issues, marital issues, divorce, and blended family issues, among others.

What is included in family therapy?

In family therapy, therapists will often start by asking questions and assessing individual and family dynamics. From there, they may employ therapeutic techniques such as structured family therapy, CBT, strategic family therapy, and more depending on the present concerns and conflicts. From there, a therapist will work to open lines of communication between family members and facilitate emotional healing and growth.

What is the success rate of family therapy?

Family therapy can be incredibly successful, with some studies reporting a success rate of almost 90% for improving participants’ emotional and mental health, and around 66% for improving their physical health.

Is family therapy conducted in person or online?

Thriveworks therapists in Irvine, CA offer both online family therapy and in-person family therapy. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.

How long does family therapy last?

Family therapy is usually short term and solution-focused, with most families accomplishing their goals in 12 sessions or fewer. However, it can also last for longer if the probles at hand are more complex — and that’s okay, too.

Need more help deciding?

Darren’s relationship with his family has always been a little rocky. They still love to get together on holidays to catch up and relive old memories, but there are definitely a lot of issues that he knows better than to bring up. It’s not so much that he isn’t interested in resolving some hard feelings between himself and his relatives, but it doesn’t seem like anyone is open to talking with him about it. 

Even though Darren’s frustrated, he knows that there has to be a way to get closer to the people he loves. After doing some thinking and a little bit of research, he’s wondering whether he and his family could benefit from family counseling Even if the rest of them are resistant, he hopes that they’ll warm up to the idea of talking to a mental health professional. Besides, having a family counselor to help mediate tough conversations sounds like a huge benefit. 

Maybe Darren’s experience sounds familiar. If you are noticing the distance between yourself and your family members, then maybe you could all benefit from sitting down and talking with a family counselor at Thriveworks in Irvine, CA. Professional insight and guidance could offer you the support and stability you need to ensure the bonds that tie you together remain strong. 

Does Our Family Need Family Counseling? 

While there’s no universal rule that dictates when a family needs professional help, at Thriveworks in Irvine, CA we believe that any family can benefit from talking with one of our family counselors. With that in mind, there are a few common indications that might serve as warnings when family dynamics have become negative, like: 

  • Persistent anxiety over financial issues or relationship difficulties 
  • Undiagnosed mental health conditions or disorders 
  • Alcohol or drug addiction
  • Feelings of resentment or hostility 
  • Unruly behavioral issues in children or teens 

In addition, it’s common for some relatives to be reluctant to attend therapy. However, if you can, keep in mind that our mental health professionals are here to help and won’t judge you for your family problems. Family counseling with Thriveworks aims to highlight the importance of the bonds that you all share and help you improve your relationships with each other. 

How Can a Family Counselor Help Us?

Our family counselors help families by: 

  • Creating and promoting newfound respect for personal boundaries and healthy communication
  • Offering encouragement, enabling you to empathize and compromise with one another 
  • Working through mental health conditions with family members to find new emotional balance and well-being 
  • Having balanced dialogue and candid discussion

It’s understandable if you’re feeling uncertain about sharing the details of your personal life with a mental health professional. But doing so could offer you all the opportunity to start healing, and to close the distance that divides you. Our family counselors are committed to assisting relatives with the process of working through tough issues and buried emotional pain; while it can be hard, the rewards can be tremendous. 

And for families who are separated by physical distance, too, online family counseling could be an attractive choice. With the ability to connect anywhere that has reliable internet and a private space to talk, you and your loved ones can start moving forward. Online family counseling is just one of the many ways that Thriveworks in Irvine, CA is helping to make quality mental health care accessible for everyone. 

Schedule Family Counseling Today at Thriveworks in Irvine, CA

When you and your family are ready to get in touch with a family counselor and start your journey toward better relationships, call our office in Irvine, CA. Our scheduling specialists are standing by seven days a week to assist you with the scheduling process. With their help, you can find the perfect session time for the whole family, set up your insurance, and more. Plus, becoming a client of Thriveworks unlocks instant access to industry-leading benefits, like: 

  • Weekend and evening session availability
  • Email contact with your provider in-between session
  • Online and in-person counseling options
  • Scheduling assistance from our specialists, 7 days a week 

Taking the time to consider whether your family could benefit from family counseling might be worthwhile. The support, stability, and professional guidance of a family counselor can provide you all with the tools you need to build stronger relationships. If you’re interested in partnering with a family counselor at Thriveworks in Irvine, CA, call us to get started.

Pricing & insurance

Our therapists accept most major insurances. We accept 585+ insurance plans, and offer self-pay options, too.
Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling services at Thriveworks.

Our Irvine therapists and counselors accept 23 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • Blue Shield of California | BCBS

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Compsych

  • First Health Network

  • Humana Exchange

  • Humana HMO/POS

  • Humana PPO | EPO | HDHP

  • Imperial Health Plan Medicare Advantage

  • JP Farley Corporation

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Self-pay costs at Irvine
Talk therapy

Talk therapy

Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Talk therapy

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

5.0 Learn about verified reviews
★★★★★
So thankful to have been connected to my therapist.
Sulyn Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Irvine is off of Irvine Center Drive and Yale Avenue. We are across the street from Wildwood Park, and near Good Shepherd Preschool.

Phone number

(657) 315-1250

Languages spoken by CA providers

  • Vietnamese
  • English
  • Spanish
Saturday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Monday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Thursday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Friday 8:00am - 9:00pm

Shown in PT

Saturday 7:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Monday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Tuesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Thursday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Friday 7:00am - 9:30pm

Shown in PT

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