“Love one another and you will be happy. It’s as simple and as difficult as that.” – Michael Leunig
Is your family defined by its problems?
Many families who come to me feel hopeless that their situation can change and are emotionally depleted from their efforts. They often have somewhat narrow definitions of themselves and their problems. Despite their best efforts they feel stuck with structures and stories which are holding them back from enjoying time together. Family therapy is about expanding the definitions, structures, and stories that are keeping you stuck. Family therapy can help multiple people in your family make important changes so that you can get along better with-and feel more positively towards-each other.
Why involve other members of my family in therapy?
Where individual therapy is based on the premise that one’s problems are best addressed in the therapist-client relationship, the unique value of family therapy lies in bringing people together to address their problems at the source. While the pull of the past on family dynamics may be strong, family therapy recognizes the power of the present to honor the family that is. Having the key people in the room together allows for a clearer view of how your family relates to one another. Furthermore, the more people in the family who understand the work that is being done in therapy makes it more likely that each family member can be supportive of one another around the issues that come up in therapy.
I’ve helped many families with the following issues:
- Parent-Child Conflict
- Divorce
- Blended Families
- School Success
- Substance Abuse
- Family Transitions
- Mental Health
- Lying
- Anger
- Grief and Loss
- Communication
- Adolescence
A few cornerstones I’ll be thinking about to help your family are:
- How you interact with each other (process) as distinct from what you are interacting about (content).
- How family roles may perpetuate the problems you are having.
- How autonomy and connection can be complementary instead of oppositional.
- How problems in your family may have been transmitted across generations.
- How culture and ethnicity have influenced your family.
In family therapy small changes can often to lead to bigger changes. Similarly, even though a problem in your family may be somewhat complicated, that doesn’t necessarily mean that a complex solution is called for. In working with your family my goal will not just be to find the most efficient ways to help you deal with the problems at hand, but also to help you experience each other differently so that you can move forward with more happiness and peace!
If you’re looking for a Denver, CO family therapist, please feel free to reach out to me. My family therapy practice is located in Denver, just north of Glendale, along the Cherry Creek. Reach out to me today!