Family/Co-Dependent Therapy

Family therapy is designed to reduce distress and conflict through the improvement of interactions between family members and the client. Usually, it is best to have all family members who are affected by the problem in one room; however, this is not always feasible. What sets family therapy apart from individual counseling lies in the perspective or framework, not necessarily how many people are present in the session.

Family counseling looks at problems as patterns or systems that need to be adjusted, rather than focusing on one person’s sole role in the problem. This is why it is often referred to as “strengths-based treatment”. Strong family relationships play a critical role in the overall mental health of each family member. This method can be effective in helping family members adjust to another family member’s struggle with an addiction or mental health diagnosis.

The purpose of family therapy or counseling is to address issues that specifically affect the psychological health of the family. It may be used as the primary mode of treatment or as a complementary approach. Therapy can be beneficial for families who are experiencing stressful events that may strain familial relationships, such as financial hardship, divorce, or the death of a loved one.

Additionally, family therapy can effectively treat other mental health concerns that impact the family as a whole, such as depression, substance abuse, chronic illness, and food issues, or everyday concerns, like communication problems, interpersonal conflict or behavioral problems in children and adolescents. 

All family therapy approaches are designed to help families improve communication, problem-solving, and coping skills, and enhance their sense of connection to one another.