Image of a therapist and client in a counseling session.

686,000 people sought help with Thriveworks in the last year

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

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Monique Nickie Murray

Hear from Monique Nickie Murray, Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC)

View Monique Nickie Murray's profile

What is your go-to approach for family therapy?

My go-to approach for helping people in family therapy is CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) along with roleplay and modeling of behaviors. I find the most benefit in being the interpreter so that each member of the family can hear the information in a different way.

What tools do you teach in family therapy?

In family therapy, I teach active listening, problem-solving, and healthy communication styles.

How do you know when a client is making meaningful progress in family therapy?

I know meaningful progress is being made when the family reports fewer toxic and disruptive communication patterns as well as authentic family connection.

What can clients do in their personal time to supplement family therapy?

Clients can supplement their time in family therapy by actively working together on homework that's given and utilizing skills and tools provided during the sessions.

What should someone do to prepare for starting family therapy?

To prepare for their first family therapy session, the family can communicate to each member that they are going to therapy and talk about what the end goal of therapy is for the family.

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 Portland, ME 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 Portland, ME 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.

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 Portland therapists and counselors accept 29 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Maine | BCBS Medicare Advantage

  • Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Maine | BCBS (PPO | HMO | POS)

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Community Health Options

  • Compsych

  • First Health Network

  • Harvard Pilgrim

  • Humana Exchange

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Self-pay costs at Portland
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

2.0 Learn about verified reviews
★★☆☆☆
My counselor was great and I adored him, he gets 5/5. I received my first billing statement on 1-16-24, the email saying I could pay in part or in full. I payed about a 3rd, and planned on doing the same for 2 more pay checks. Today, 1-31-24, I received an email thanking me for my payment. Their billing department withdrew the remaining balance,over $350 from my account without authorization. I only had $60 in that account. I work in private healthcare, and my practice would never collect without a clients knowledge and consent. If they won’t pay, we don’t use their stores info and take their money, we send to collections and let them do their job. I did try calling, auto it said wait time 20 minutes. I sent an email to their department at 1ish, didn’t hear anything back by end of business day.
Read more My counselor was great and I adored him, he gets 5/5. I received my first billing statement on 1-16-24, the email saying I could pay in part or in full. I payed about a 3rd, and planned on doing the same for 2 more pay checks. Today, 1-31-24, I received an email thanking me for my payment. Their billing department withdrew the remaining balance,over $350 from my account without authorization. I only had $60 in that account. I work in private healthcare, and my practice would never collect without a clients knowledge and consent. If they won’t pay, we don’t use their stores info and take their money, we send to collections and let them do their job. I did try calling, auto it said wait time 20 minutes. I sent an email to their department at 1ish, didn’t hear anything back by end of business day.
Kali Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★☆☆☆
My counselor was great and I adored him, he gets 5/5. I received my first billing statement on 1-16-24, the email saying I could pay in part or in full. I payed about a 3rd, and planned on doing the same for 2 more pay checks. Today, 1-31-24, I received an email thanking me for my payment. Their billing department withdrew the remaining balance,over $350 from my account without authorization. I only had $60 in that account. I work in private healthcare, and my practice would never collect without a clients knowledge and consent. If they won’t pay, we don’t use their stores info and take their money, we send to collections and let them do their job. I did try calling, auto it said wait time 20 minutes. I sent an email to their department at 1ish, didn’t hear anything back by end of business day.
Read more My counselor was great and I adored him, he gets 5/5. I received my first billing statement on 1-16-24, the email saying I could pay in part or in full. I payed about a 3rd, and planned on doing the same for 2 more pay checks. Today, 1-31-24, I received an email thanking me for my payment. Their billing department withdrew the remaining balance,over $350 from my account without authorization. I only had $60 in that account. I work in private healthcare, and my practice would never collect without a clients knowledge and consent. If they won’t pay, we don’t use their stores info and take their money, we send to collections and let them do their job. I did try calling, auto it said wait time 20 minutes. I sent an email to their department at 1ish, didn’t hear anything back by end of business day.
Kali Jan 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling Portland is located at the corner of Ashmont Street and Forest Avenue. We share a building with Normandeau Associates and Maine Celtics Sportswear store among other businesses. At the corner, you will find the Forest Ave and 550 Forest Ave bus stop for the 2 bus line.

Phone number

(207) 994-7555

Languages spoken by ME providers

  • English
Thursday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Friday 8:00am - 9:00pm
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

Shown in ET

Thursday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Friday 7:00am - 9:30pm
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

Shown in ET

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