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 Normal, IL 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 Normal, IL 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?
At Thriveworks, our family therapists are here to help. A licensed professional can be the third-party mediator that’s needed to start opening up lines of communication and working through your differences.
Our licensed mental health professionals are ready to help. Call us or schedule online to get started today.
Why Pursue Family Counseling?
Some problems frequently tackled during family therapy include:
- Financial disagreements
- Mental or physical illness
- Divorce or separation
- Blended families
- Strained relationships
- Constant fighting or tension
- Substance abuse
- Behavioral problems
- Grief and loss
Having a licensed mental health professional guide your family through trying times can give you the perspective you all need for growth. Family therapists can help you mend wounds, find new solutions to old problems, and build stronger relationships for the future.
They can also help you build long-term skills including:
- Interpersonal communication
- Active listening
- Conflict resolution and problem-solving
- Anger and stress management
- Setting healthy boundaries
Pursuing therapy can feel like a vulnerable step to take but our compassionate therapists are here to support you along the way. When you’re ready to bring your family back together, we’re ready to help. Connect with us at Thriveworks in Normal, IL to schedule an in-person or online family therapy appointment.
What To Expect From Family Therapy
Depending on your family’s needs, you might benefit from one or more forms of family therapy, including:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): This type of therapy helps you identify and reframe unhealthy thought patterns that may be negatively impacting your emotions and behaviors.
- Family systems therapy: As the name suggests, this type of therapy treats the family as an interconnected system that is collectively affected by the choices, emotions, and behaviors of each member of the family. This understanding of the group dynamic and each person’s role in it can promote conflict resolution by fostering empathy and togetherness.
- Supportive family therapy: This type of therapy emphasizes the safe and supported expression of emotion from each member of the family. It can be particularly useful for families dealing with a specific issue that affects most, if not all, members of the family.
Whatever therapy looks like for your family, our mental health professionals at Thriveworks in Normal, IL will take the time to understand your family’s needs and give them the care that benefits them most. Call our scheduling team or click our booking tool to get started today.
Schedule a Family Therapy Appointment at Thriveworks in Normal, IL
At Thriveworks, we’re here to provide compassionate support to help you get through those times together and come out the other side stronger than ever. Call us at (309) 485-5024 or click today to schedule an appointment at Thriveworks in Normal, IL today.
