Have you considered family therapy?

Are you on Google, searching “Family Therapy Near Me?”

Sometimes the idea of working with a counselor can feel scary or simply not something that you feel ready for. Yet, I encourage you to consider the question.

Is there a perfect time to work with a counselor?

The honest answer is no.

You can work with a counselor when life is wonderful and when things are going to be great. As a parent, you want the best for your child. And your child more than likely wants to be around a fun and loving parent. Now the trick is how to make this work so that both you and your child can create and sustain a powerful relationship.

Working with a counselor is not a sign of weakness but a courageous step toward a more fulfilling and balanced life. You and your child can use the counseling service to develop mutual values that align your relationship, empower one another to face life’s challenges and build a meaningful connection.

3 Key Ways Counseling Can Positively Impact Parents and Kids

1. Learn Effective Communication Skills.

Counseling can teach you and your child how to communicate effectively. Here is what this means. More than likely, you have tension during certain topics.

Perhaps you tell your child to do something, and it takes 20 times before they do it. This makes you feel frustrated. At the same time, your child feels frustrated from being yelled out over and over. So, they shut down. Both try to communicate, and it fails.

Counseling is the bridge that allows you to see the space and learn the right strategies that are needed to fill it. Through guided conversations, you and your child learn to express your thoughts, feelings and needs openly and respectfully.

2. Understanding Each Other’s Perspectives:

Sometimes kids tell their parents that they want to see a counselor. As much as you may not believe this, it happens. A child may feel stuck and want their parent to understand their point of view.

So, they come to counseling. Working with a counselor gives the parent and child a constructive space to share their perspective and learn how to see the world differently. What takes place is that children and parents often express needs and wants in ways that are different. This can lead to disconnect and conflict.

Counseling provides a neutral space for you and your child to express your perspectives and feelings.

3. Conflict Resolution:

Do you know that there are too many loud arguments taking place with your child? Are you having a hard time managing the flow of a conversation? The truth is that conflicts are inevitable in any relationship. Now, even though that is the truth it doesn’t mean that you have reached a dead-end road.

Working with a skilled counselor can equip you and your child with the skills to navigate disagreements constructively. That’s the key, accepting that conflicts will take place and knowing how to use the tools.

A skilled therapist can guide you and your child through conflict resolution techniques, teaching both how to address differences while preserving the respect and love of the relationship.

Is Family Therapy Right For You?

I like to view family life as a complex painting composed of varying strokes. Different colors, shapes, and textures. Yet, all come together to form a beautiful and unique painting.

But how do you know if family therapy is the right choice for your unique situation?

Here are signs that indicate it might be time to consider family therapy for your household.

1. You want the family to recover after a traumatic or difficult incident. This can include the passing of a loved one or separation.
2. There is an ongoing conflict between family members. You have tried to address it, and nothing seems to work.
3. The family struggles with navigating misunderstandings.
4. You want to share news with your children and need a little help. This can include dating or marriage.
5. A family member’s substance issue is impacting members of the family.
6. There is a lack of understanding of boundaries. This can be due to differences in ages in siblings or blending a family.

There are ample reasons that family therapy can help a household. The first step is contacting our counseling office. Our approach is to guide you to the style of therapy that best fits your position in life. This may mean family therapy. At other times it can include first going through individual therapy and later family. Give us a call today.

Benefits of Counseling for Parents

When parents choose to work with a counselor in the setting of family or individual therapy, they flourish. And of course, get a wonderful space to practice the much-needed self-care.  

Parenting is a 24-hour, 7-day week, 365 days a year including all holidays with no PTO or bonus pay occupation. That was a mouthful. And something very real.

Counseling can have numerous benefits for parents, in particular, it is a safe and constructive space to explore stressors, develop healthy coping skills, foster personal growth, and maintain a healthy level of well-being.

1. Learn how to manage stress using evidence-based clinical strategies.
2. Develop healthy communication skills aimed to help you process and share your thoughts and feelings.
3. Learn to navigate internal conflict, within the family, and with others.
4. Practice self-reflection and awareness aimed to help you explore your values and beliefs about life and parenting.
5. Establish healthy boundaries that honor your self-care, self-esteem, and values in life.
6. Gain guidance on effective parenting techniques and strategies.

Research on Mental Health in Children And Families

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ADHD, anxiety, behavior difficulties, and depression are noted as the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in children.  1 in 6 children in the U.S. ages two to eight years old has a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder.

As a parent take a moment to think about your child and hold awareness of the symptoms connected to ADHD, anxiety, behavioral problems, and depression. Early prevention is vital.

One important question to consider is – What factors are associated with challenges in mental health?

A study focused on race and discrimination, found that children ages 6 to 17 years experience higher percentages of mental health conditions. Ample studies show findings connected to a relationship between parent’s mental health and children’s.

Yale Medicine noted that parents who experience depression show up with less energy and interaction with their children. To an extent, this makes sense as one of the symptoms of depression is low energy and motivation. The purpose of sharing this with you is for awareness.

This is not to say that all parents who experience depression will show up with less energy. Instead, it is to highlight awareness. Take a moment to consider how your mental health impacts your life and that of those around you. In addition, consider the mental health of your child in the same manner. Use the awareness, as a step forward in starting the counseling process.