Family therapy is an effective way to manage problems that may be affecting a family member or the entire family system. Not only has my professional experience taught me, research also indicates that to work successfully with children and adolescents, it is often necessary to work with their parents/caregivers as well. Family therapy can help resolve communication problems, better establish roles and boundaries, and increase attunement and connection.

My priority is to create a non-judgemental environment where each family member feels supported and where a family’s strengths are acknowledged. My approach to family therapy is solution-focused and goal-oriented. In my therapy room, family members have the opportunity to experiment with new ways of relating to one another. My role is to point out when family members fall into their familiar yet sometimes unhelpful way of relating to one another and then to encourage or direct them to engage in a more supportive and helpful way.

Family therapy does not necessarily mean having all family members in the therapy room week after week. Family therapy can and often does include doing some individual, sibling, parent-child, and/or multi-generational work. I tailor my work to meet my clients’ needs and goals.

Being part of a family can be hard. For parents, knowing how to respond to kids or being able to respond in a less reactive way is no easy task. For teens, becoming independent and trying to negotiate life can get complicated. During times of high family stress or transition, kids often act out. Outwardly, young people seem to be communicating to their parents that they want to be left alone. They can act in hurtful, rejecting and unappreciative ways. Ironically, however, these are the moments they need their caregivers’ support and attention more than ever (although once they reach adolescence they are highly unlikely to admit it!). Obtaining guidance around how to support their child(ren), considering each child’s unique personality and developmental stage, can be invaluable.

While I have specialized training in working within the family system, there are situations where individual therapy would be the most appropriate method of treatment. We would discuss your needs during our initial phone conversation to determine the best treatment method for you/your family. See my section on Individual Therapy.