Introduction
Many of us understand the benefits of individual therapy. We also understand the benefits of couples counseling. What about family therapy? Is there such a thing? How can we find it? How can we know if it is going to benefit our family? How can we know if something like family therapy is necessary? What can we do to determine if we need family therapy, how to go about it, and if it is working when we start it? This article will serve as a brief overview of the option of family therapy and if it might be a concept for you to consider.
What is Family Therapy?
Much like it sounds, family therapy is where members of a family unit come together with a mental health professional to work on aspects of their relationship. This is also where it becomes different. While individual therapy focuses on you as a person, family therapy focuses on the family unit. If family therapy gets tied up solely on one person, it will not work as well as it should. The main focus of family therapy will be to help the family function better as a whole unit. A good family therapist will work together with the family to try and find ways for the family to identify challenges or barriers to the family living their best lives, and then finding coping skills and mechanisms to living better. Because every family unit is different, the coping skills and methods are all going to look different. Family therapy will use very different methods and techniques depending on ages, family dynamics, and situations.
What types of family therapy are there?
There are numerous types of family therapy. Some of the most common are in conjunction with significant changes in a family, such as therapy during a divorce, or when there is a person in the family with substance abuse issues. There is also grief therapy or group therapy surrounding loss. There are also therapists who specialize in stepfamily relationships or blended families. Therapists can also have specialties in specific cultural identities, LGBTQ+ relationships, or other needs of families. When looking for a type of therapy, it is important to examine your family and the needs that you have. Consider each of these things and then look for a therapist or group that matches those needs. Make sure that your therapist has an understanding of the challenges that your family faces. It can be very important to do research before finding a good therapist. Family therapy may consist of the therapist spending time with the family as individuals, in group settings, or a combination of the two. There may be recommendations for some members to also have individual therapy with a different therapist or the same therapist, again depending on the situation and the severity of the issues faced. Family therapy can be done in a clinical setting, a hospital setting, or in a community health setting.
How Can It Help?
Many people feel unnecessary shame about the idea of seeking family therapy. Just because we are born into a family or have chosen to live within a certain family does not mean that we have the natural capacity to get along with the people we are connected to. There is no shame in needing an outside perspective in learning how to understand and connect with one another. Communicating with people is a challenging process. Working with a professional to understand each other is one of the main reasons that people seek out family therapy. Family therapy can also be very beneficial when significant challenges enter into the family dynamic. Issues such as major health challenges, financial challenges, death or divorce, or remarriage are ones where a family therapist can be truly beneficial. Their ability to help all the different members of the family understand each other and see the different sides of the issue will be ideal for the situations that present themselves.
What to Expect
One thing to consider is that a lot of family therapy is not covered by insurance. When seeking out family therapy, be sure to talk with the clinic or place offering therapy as well as your insurance to find out about insurance and costs. Depending on the ages of the members of the family, expectations may be different. If there are younger children involved, you may expect a lot of play therapy, storytelling, role play, and learning to interact at a level that is appropriate for the age. Traditional talk therapy is not as effective for younger children. Art, music, and other methods may be utilized more to put children at ease. These methods may be employed even without younger children to bring a sense of bonding and connection with family members. One can also expect a lot of homework, outside work, and expectations of family growth to be done outside of the therapeutic space for optimal improvement as a family unit. This can sometimes be a challenge for one or more of the family members who may not be ready for the therapeutic process. Working together as a family in and out of therapy to prepare for therapy, and to process therapy is beneficial. Talk with the therapist about what you hope to get out of therapy, and what you desire to see change about your own family.
How to Find A Family Therapist
Finding a family therapist is much like finding an individual therapist. When looking at resources like clinics, Psychology Today, health care centers, and more, seek information about therapy and care. Make sure you are looking for specific credentials. The Utah Department of Professional Licensing can confirm if a person has a current license to practice mental health counseling or psychological services. You can speak to a clinic or therapist about their specialties and find out if they match what you are looking for. As healthcare providers, people understand that sometimes you may attend an appointment or two and feel like it is not a strong fit. However, also understand that sometimes it does take more than just one or two appointments for the work to solidify. It is also important for you to decide as a family what it is you are hoping to gain as a family, and what changes you are willing to make to accomplish your goals. Therapy is a team effort.
Conclusion
Families can be wonderful relationships, and provide safety, security, and healthy bonds. Sometimes there are challenges within the family unit that need the support of a trained professional. There is no shame in seeking help from a professional. At The Counseling Center, we have several therapists who work with families to build better relationships so that families can thrive. No matter if you have a traditional family, a stepfamily, or any other family dynamic, give us a call if you are in need of some guidance on how to improve the bonds in your family.