What is family therapy?

Family therapy is a type of counseling involving the entire family. It can help maintain positive relationships within a family dealing with a stressful situation or a life-changing event, such as having a loved one with a chronic mood disorder.

In family therapy, each person can express any concerns and fears about how the problem is affecting their loved one and the family dynamics. They will also receive support for the frustrations they experience when helping the person through the challenges of his or her situation.

Family therapy should be conducted by a qualified counselor who has had specific training in treating families, such as a licensed professional counselor or psychologist.

Society trains us to think very individualistically, but many of our behaviors, thoughts, actions are reactions to the complex interactions of our lives, families, relationships! Family therapy is a way of viewing problems and solutions by evaluating the bigger picture of how all the parts involved create a symptom. There are a wide range of techniques, theories, and interventions in the field of family therapy. These strategies are designed to alter the physics of relationships to bring about healthy stability and solutions. By learning how to effectively change and assimilate desirable mental or behavioral thought processes, we can achieve desired outcomes in our relationships. Contrary to popular belief, family therapy does not need to be done with whole family participation for results to occur within the family! The principles of systemic family therapy apply, "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts". This means that when there is a change in one part of the system, such as within an individual, this will produce differences in the way others think and act too!