The author Richard Bach once stated, “The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.” True families can be forged through love, through adversity, and through loyalty. They can be a source of strength and comfort. But sometimes they can also be a source of stress. And that is when marriage and family therapy can help.
At Thriveworks in Montgomery, AL, the licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) and other mental health professionals with extensive training in family therapy can help support clients with a broad range of family issues. Family relationships can be complicated. Struggle doesn’t mean weakness. Sometimes it can mean growth and fortitude. For example, in one family a teenage son’s behavioral issues might indicate a deeper family issue that needs to be addressed. Through therapy, that issue can be identified and resolved, strengthening the trust and bonds between family members. Or in another family, a parent might be experiencing acute financial stress and then taking it out on their partner and children.
A licensed counselor at Thriveworks can help teach the parent better coping skills which can then be handed down to the next generation. The overall positive impact of family therapy can endure for decades.
What Are the Benefits of Family Therapy?
The vast majority of clients who complete family therapy treatment (usually in 12 sessions or fewer) are satisfied with the results. This is because family therapy is usually very solution-focused and targeted toward clients’ individualized goals. At Thriveworks in Montgomery, AL, clients seek marital and family counseling for a variety of reasons, including the following:
- To heal or reconcile
- To improve overall rapport
- To reduce conflict and tension in the household
- To forgive, or ask for forgiveness
- To establish healthy boundaries
- To get over a temporary hurdle
- To deal with specific issues like life transitions
- To process a death or sickness in the family
- To manage anger
- To build mutual trust
- To explore misunderstandings
- To learn how to prevent future conflict
- To find individual support
What Are the Indications for Family Therapy?
There are as many indications for family therapy as there are families in the world! Clients come to Thriveworks in Montgomery, AL for all kinds of reasons. And the reasons don’t have to be related to a crisis or some acute distress in the family. Sometimes therapy can just be for maintenance, or to strengthen existing bonds. That being said, people often seek the help of LMFTs, social workers, and psychologists for the following specific issues within the family:
- Mood disorders like major depression and postpartum depression
- Anxiety
- Bereavement
- Financial stress
- Marital conflict
- Eating disorders
- Behavioral problems
- Neurodiverse children issues
- Substance abuse and addiction
- Rebellion
- Juvenile delinquency or crime
- Estrangements
- Conflicts and tension
- Emotional or verbal abuse
- Chronic illness
- Caregiver burnout
- Codependency
- Perfectionism
- Unhealthy parenting styles
In a family unit, one person’s struggles tends to affect everyone. A family therapist may identify a family member who could benefit from individual therapy or social work. But the group therapy work can proceed in parallel with this personal attention.
What Is the Best Way to Conduct a Family Therapy Session?
An exceptional family counselor (like those who work at Thriveworks in Montgomery, AL) develops an intuitive sense of what kind of therapeutic approach would best suit the family as a whole. So they might utilize methods like structural family therapy, family systems therapy, or strategic therapy to get the best results. They might use person-centered, emotion-focused, or trauma-focused approaches as well. It all depends on the family’s goals and characteristics.
Family therapy often takes a close look at the following dynamics in a family:
- Individual roles that everyone plays within the household
- Implicit strengths and weaknesses
- Unspoken rules and codes of behavior
- Communication patterns
- Individual personalities and perspectives
- Lifestyles
- Emotional triggers
- Historical context
A family therapist often seeks to help family members understand each other’s points of view. They can do this through discussion, games, and even playful exercises.
Reinforce Your Connections with Family Therapy at Thriveworks in Montgomery, AL
To choose the family therapist that’s right for you, you need to consider convenience, affordability, and quality of care. At Thriveworks in Montgomery, AL, therapists accept most major forms of health insurance. They offer in-person sessions at the modern office in Montgomery as well as comfortable online counseling sessions scheduled at the client’s convenience. Thriveworks therapists are recruited from the top 4% of applicants, ensuring that they deliver the best care possible to Thriveworks clients.
If you’re interested in seeing a family therapist with the people you love, call the Thriveworks office and make an appointment. A provider should be able to meet with you within 24-48 hours. And you can access your provider by phone or email between sessions.
We look forward to helping you and your family members enhance your bonds. Call today!
