Family/Co-Parenting
Welcome to Our Family Therapy Services!
At Fresh Breath Therapy, I understand that families are foundational to personal development and well-being. Family counseling is designed to help members of a family, and the family unit as a whole, with communication, boundaries, and other issues that impact relationships within the family, so that all members can feel valued and understood. I take a warm, nonjudgmental approach with every family I work with. While I’m an expert in psychology and psychotherapy, you’re an expert in yourselves and your family’s needs. My role is to help you navigate and learn more about yourselves and help you access the resilience and healing potential you already possess. During this collaborative process, we’ll find the tools that work best for you and your loved ones. My hope is that you will leave feeling supported and empowered to continue growing even after our work together has come to an end.
Is Family Therapy Right For You?
Life is full of unexpected twists and turns that can greatly impact the family unit as a whole. Children grow up and move away, parents split up and remarry, and outside stressors like job loss or medical issues can create flux in a family’s life. In these situations, making appropriate adjustments can mean the difference between success and struggle. Needing family therapy does not mean your family is broken; it indicates that you could use extra support to get your family's feet back on the ground.
- Common Family Stressors:
- Blended family
- Divorce/Separation
- Death in the family
- Major illness
- Addition of a new family member
- Job loss
- Deployment
- Parenting issue
Family therapy is necessary to address family issues and heal a family’s wounds. If any of the above scenarios resonate with your family, consider seeking family therapy. Family therapy can be beneficial on many different levels.
Our Approach
We start with a thorough assessment to understand your family's unique dynamics, structure, and challenges. Based on this, I work with the whole family to create a customized treatment plan that aligns with your family's specific needs and goals. Together, we will work to create healthy boundaries and communication so that every member of the family feels valued and heard, both in and out of sessions. Below is additional information on the evidence-based practices I pull from during family sessions.
Family Systems Therapy: Family Systems Therapy focuses on group communication to identify and better understand the dynamics within a family. This kind of therapy helps individual family members recognize how their behavior impacts others. The central idea is that the family is an emotional unit, and therefore, anything that happens to one person happens to the whole family. Once every member of the family recognizes their patterns, they can begin to use more positive behaviors that help each person and the family as a unit grow in their relationships.
Supportive Therapy: Supportive Family Therapy is a type of psychotherapy that uses the "therapeutic alliance" — an opportunity to establish a space that feels safe for everyone in the room to open up emotionally while still feeling fully supported. This approach helps to increase self-esteem, reestablish a connection to reality, regulate impulses and negative thinking, and strengthen the ability to cope with life stressors and obstacles.
Therapy Goals
- Strengthening Relationships: Fostering a deeper understanding and creating healthy attachments between family members.
- Improving Communication: Teaching effective communication skills that promote clarity, empathy, and reduce conflicts.
- Resolving Conflicts: Equipping families with the tools to manage and resolve conflicts in a healthy manner.
- Supporting Life Transitions: Providing guidance and support during significant family changes, such as moves, the addition of new family members, or significant losses.
- Building Empathy and Understanding: Creating a safe space both in the therapy setting and at home so that everyone is able to communicate and interact openly.
Schedule A Session
Are you ready to enhance your family’s harmony and resilience? Contact me today to schedule your initial consultation and start your journey towards a happier, healthier family life.