Does it ever feel like you and a family member are speaking a different language? Sometimes, the people that you spend the most time with can be the hardest ones to talk to. While we all share some of our most treasured memories with our family members, we can also share difficult arguments, anxieties, or other experiences that are hard to talk about.
If it seems like there’s a wedge between you and a family member, or if a topic always seems to ignite a conflict, don’t worry. You’re not the only one. Part of being a family means having these shared experiences, and part of being a healthy family means working through them together.
At Thriveworks, our family therapists are here to help. It’s normal to feel hesitant about opening up but a licensed professional can be the third-party mediator that’s needed to start opening up lines of communication and working through your differences. At Thriveworks in Normal, IL, our licensed mental health professionals are ready to help.
Why Pursue Family Counseling?
You might feel pressure to figure out your family’s issues on your own. After all, don’t you know each other best? While that may be true, a family therapist can offer a neutral perspective with trained expertise. They have a familiarity with solving problems and navigating family relationships that for most people, may feel like uncharted territory.
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.
To help determine what type of therapy will best suit you, a therapist will want to get to know the intricacies of your family member’s personalities and concerns. Your counselor will take the time to hear the perspectives of each family member so they can customize an effective treatment plan. In a group therapy setting, validating the emotions and perspectives of each participant is crucial to creating a compassionate and honest environment.
In some cases, a therapist might opt to meet with some family members one-on-one. It’s also possible that not every member of the family may need to attend therapy sessions in order to reach a satisfying resolution.
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
Going through hard times with your family is completely normal. 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 or click today to schedule an in-person or remote appointment with one of our family therapists. We have availability in the mornings, evenings, and weekends, as well as a flexible cancellation policy. To make sure getting the help your family needs is as accessible as possible, we accept most major forms of insurance and offer affordable rates for those paying out of pocket.
If your family wants to work through its problems, we want to help. Schedule an appointment at Thriveworks in Normal, IL today.
