The rabbi Neil Kurshan once stated, “Family life is not a computer program that runs on its own; it needs continual input from everyone.” The critical words there are “continual” and “everyone.” Children aren’t the only family members who can change dramatically over the years. All humans develop new interests, new goals, and new pursuits over time. A healthy family allows room for everyone to change and contribute in new ways as they grow older. Healthy families aren’t stagnant. They’re flexible and inclusive. But what happens when someone in a family begins to feel that there isn’t space for them to be themselves? Family relationships can start to show strain.
Family therapists at Thriveworks in Tallahassee, FL can help families that are facing obstacles, whether they be life transitions, behavioral problems, grief, stress, addiction, or something else. The goal of marriage and family therapy is to help families achieve their goals, thus treatment plans can be highly individualized. But one thing they all have in common is honesty. Licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) offer clients a safe space where they can openly express their thoughts and feelings. Family counselors facilitate sessions that allow everyone to speak and share. No family issue is off-limits. And with high-quality support, families usually resolve their issues within 12 sessions or less.
What Is Family Therapy? What Does It Consist Of?
Family therapy is group therapy for people with familial bonds (which aren’t necessarily blood bonds). It’s a way of facilitating thoughtful discussion about an infinite number of subjects that arise between family members. Marital and family therapy at Thriveworks in Tallahassee, FL can take a deep look at interpersonal dynamics like the following:
- Roles that each individual plays within the household
- Implicit strengths and weaknesses of the family
- Unspoken rules and codes of behavior
- Communication patterns
- Individual personalities and points of view
- Lifestyle differences
- Emotional triggers
- Historical context
These are all elements that might arise during therapy sessions, but a mental health professional will usually begin by asking each family member what their goals are. These goals can span a wide range of subjects, some easy to tackle and some fraught with difficulty. For example, family members may express their wish to do the following:
- To heal or reconcile after conflict or estrangement
- To improve overall rapport
- To reduce tension in the household
- To forgive, or ask someone for forgiveness
- To establish healthy boundaries
- To get through a life transition
- To process a death or sickness in the family
- To talk through one family member’s eating disorder or mental health condition
- To manage anger
- To build mutual trust
- To explore misunderstandings in a secure environment
- To learn how to prevent future conflict
It may seem like a lot of ground to cover, but skilled mental health providers with training in family therapy can adeptly lead family members toward specific issues while maintaining everyone’s comfort levels.
How to Address a Wide Range of Issues in Family Therapy?
Couple and family therapists like social workers and licensed professional counselors (LPCs) can facilitate meaningful conversations with family members by introducing sensitive topics through games, exercises, and icebreaker activities. No subject is off-limits in therapy sessions, though a counselor is trained to rein in unproductive conversations and turn family members back toward problem-solving and solutions. People come to family treatment for a wide range of issues and problems, including the following:
- Mood disorders like major depressive disorder (MDD) and postpartum depression
- Anxiety
- Bereavement
- Financial stress
- Marital conflict
- Social work
- Eating disorders
- Behavioral problems
- Neurodiverse children issues
- Substance abuse
- Juvenile delinquency or crime
- Estrangements
- Conflicts and tension
- Bullying
- Emotional or verbal abuse
- Chronic illness
- Caregiver burnout
- Codependency
- Perfectionism
- Unhealthy parenting styles
Is Family Counseling Worth It?
The vast majority of families who see a specialized counselor are satisfied with the results of their sessions. This is because the therapy is usually brief, goal-oriented, and focused on solutions, not assigning blame. The family therapists at Thriveworks in Tallahassee, FL are trained to see problems from each person’s perspective, and to help family members in that same pursuit. This process can foster empathy and compassion, which can lead to healing and renewed connection.
Reinforce Your Bonds with Family Therapy at Thriveworks in Tallahassee, FL
The family therapists at Thriveworks in Tallahassee, FL are fully licensed and recruited from the top 4% of area applicants. They also accept most major forms of health insurance coverage. This means that Thriveworks clients can get access to the best mental health care at affordable rates. They can also choose to see their exceptional provider via an online counseling session or in-person at the modern office. Therapists can meet with new clients quickly at Thriveworks, usually within 24-48 hours of their initial booking by phone or online.
Put your family on the path to healing with licensed therapy at Thriveworks. We look forward to helping you and yours.
