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.
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.
If you’re having trouble with your family, you’re not alone. All families have ups and downs and some issues simply require an outside, experienced perspective to reach a satisfying resolution.
You may find sibling rivalries have spiraled out of control over the years. You may find you resent your parents for your upbringing or feel guilty that you didn’t live up to expectations. You may be struggling with a child’s behavioral issues or a relative’s hurtful comments. Instead of avoiding family gatherings for the rest of your life, it can be infinitely more beneficial to tackle these issues head-on together with the help of a trained family therapist.
If you’ve been experiencing conflict within your family or need help navigating a difficult time, reach out to the marriage and family therapists at Thriveworks Counseling in Salt Lake City, UT.
Reasons To Consult With a Family Therapist
Families are highly interconnected, which means something that affects one family member can affect the rest in unpredictable ways. If someone in your family has a mental illness or struggles with substance abuse, it can have a negative impact on the other family members too. This is why therapists spend time getting to know your family and understanding its unique and complex dynamic.
No two families are alike, but many families encounter similar problems. These are several reasons families may seek out family counseling:
- Separation, divorce, or remarriage
- Parenting issues
- Abuse or trauma
- Substance abuse
- Loss of a family member
- Heated arguments that don’t resolve
- Physical or mental illness within the family
- Behavioral issues
- Child-rearing troubles
- Blending of families
- Major life transitions
What to Expect From Family Therapy Appointments
If you have a hard time imagining your family getting along, you’re not alone. Many families struggle with seemingly insurmountable hurdles but sometimes a neutral perspective is all that’s needed. Our family and couples therapists have helped countless families tackle issues together by opening up lines of communication and finding new solutions to old problems.
Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, may be part of your therapy sessions. This form of talk therapy involves a deeper look at your thought processes and how they impact your behaviors and emotions. Many conflicts between family members go so far back you may not remember or understand the deeper issues until you begin to peel back the layers with a trained therapist.
Taking part in therapy sessions can yield many benefits in the long term. Families who participate in marriage and family therapy often leave with increased empathy and a better understanding of how their actions impact those around them. After engaging in talk therapy, you may find it easier to set healthy boundaries without causing further conflict.
Schedule Family Therapy at Thriveworks in Salt Lake City, UT
Making time for mental health services can be a challenge in our stressful world, and that’s especially true when it comes to juggling multiple calendars. That’s why we offer a variety of scheduling options to make it easier for you and your family members to get help.
Evening and weekend sessions make it simple to find a time that will work best for everyone. We also offer online therapy, which is a convenient and comfortable option that is just as effective as traditional therapy. We take many major forms of insurance and are highly flexible when it comes to cancellations.
If you’re ready to take the first step and prioritize your family relationships, get in touch with Thriveworks Counseling in Salt Lake City, UT to get started.
