Family Marriage Counseling
When a family member struggles, everyone is affected
Family therapy helps each member understand how he or she can best contribute to the solution. When problems are approached in this manner, children and parents begin to pull together as a team and family values are respected. Counseling the whole family or smaller units within the family can change enough of the “dynamic” to make a difference in everyone’s life.
Families are a powerful resource available to individuals attempting to cope successfully with major psychological, medical, or societal difficulties. By strengthening existing resources and helping family members to work collaboratively toward inventive solutions to tough problems, family therapy can be of immense benefit to people at times of major stress.
Family therapy can help with:
- Marital problems
- Depression
- Grief
- Loss
- Trauma
- Chronic health problems
- Parenting skills
- Substance abuse
- Work stress
- Financial problems
- Emotional abuse
We offer a brief, effective course of treatment.
Setting specific goals and identifying strategies to accomplish these goals are an important part of the therapy. Sometimes, clients will be asked to do certain tasks between sessions. The specifics are discussed and agreed to during the therapy appointment. Some examples of what might be asked include reading certain materials, writing a list, keeping track of specific information or following a particular planned “exercise.” These “homework assignments” are customized to the situation, the problem and the individual(s). Completing these “assignments” shorten the course of treatment and also contribute toward a collaborative therapeutic relationship.
Family therapy often brings entire families together in sessions. However, family members may also see a family therapist individually. You and your family will examine your family’s ability to solve problems and express thoughts and emotions. You may explore family roles, rules and behavior patterns in order to spot issues that contribute to conflict. Family therapy may help you identify your family’s strengths, such as caring for one another, and weaknesses, such as an inability to confide in one other. This therapy utilizes the particular strengths and aptitudes of each client in the most productive way to ameliorate problems and introduce flexibility, thereby creating new solutions and possibilities.
Family life can be trying for parents and children.
You and your child may experience stressful times due to pressures in today’s society, personal issues, adjustment to change, relationships, and a variety of other causes. Children can have difficulties finding success in school, and in their peer and family relationships.
For example, if your adult daughter has anxiety, your family may not understand the roots of her anxiety or how to help. Although you’re worried about her, you may have such deep-rooted family conflicts that conversations often erupt into arguments. You’re left with hurt feelings, and her anxiety spreads to the entire family.
Family therapy can help pinpoint your specific concerns and assess how your family is handling them. You’ll learn new ways to interact and overcome old problems. You’ll set individual and family goals and work on ways to achieve them. In the end, your daughter may be better equipped to cope with her anxiety, you’ll understand her needs better, and you, your partner, and your daughter may all get along better.
Family Therapy offers an opportunity for growth and change.
It is designed to establish realistic goals and objectives, to reduce stressors, and to improve daily functioning for the parent, child and family.
Your family can be your greatest source of support, comfort and love. But it can also be your greatest source of pain and grief. A health crisis, work problems or teenage rebellion may threaten to tear your family apart.
Your therapist will help your family examine its ability to solve problems and constructively express thoughts and emotions. You may explore family roles, rules and behavior patterns in order to identify issues that contribute to conflict. Family therapy may help you identify your family’s strengths, such as caring for one another, and weaknesses, such as an inability to confide in one other.
We will help you and your family weather the storm.
We will help you heal strained relationships among family members. Whether it’s you, your partner, your child, a sibling or a parent, family therapy can help all of you relate harmoniously and enjoy a happier, more loving life.
Take the first step. Pick up the phone and call. We’re here to help you: 1-888-242-1720
Sincerely,
Arlene Foreman, M.S. & The Counselors at Philadelphia Area Couples Counseling Alliance
Family and Marriage Counseling