The entire family is affected when just one member has communication difficulties, anger issues, or any emotional, behavioral, or developmental problem. These issues lead to pervasive challenges that leave families in turmoil. The caring team at Associates in Behavioral Science offers family counseling that solves problems, rebuilds connections, and nurtures a healthy family life. If you need help working through the issues that create conflict in your family, call the offices in Berwyn or West Dundee, Illinois, or book an appointment online today.

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What is family counseling?

Family counseling deals with the many issues that negatively influence the mental health and overall functioning of a family. Therapy addresses specific problems and general concerns like the lack of connection between family members.

The team at Associates in Behavioral Health has a broad definition of family. As a result, family counseling includes anyone who has an ongoing and supportive role. You don’t need to limit family counseling to blood relatives or relatives sharing the same household.

Family counseling aims to improve communication, foster understanding, and build a healthy, supportive family unit. To this end, therapy focuses on helping each person understand how they negatively or positively contribute to the problem at hand. Then the family learns to work together to solve the struggles faced by one or more individuals.

When might we need family counseling?

Families seek help for many issues, including:

  • Communication problems
  • Parent-child conflict
  • Sibling conflict
  • Behavioral problems in children
  • Developmental disabilities in children
  • Trouble at school
  • Domestic violence
  • Death of a loved one
  • Divorce or separation
  • Traumatic experiences
  • Major life transitions (moving, birth of a new baby)
  • Mental health disorders in family members

You may already know that a family member has a mental health disorder, or your therapist at Associates in Behavioral Science may diagnose a problem during family therapy.

When one person faces a mental health disorder, your therapist teaches family members about that condition. They recommend ways to support that person while also maintaining boundaries and protecting your wellbeing. However, the person with a mental illness may also need additional individual therapy.

What type of therapy is used during family counseling?

Your therapist may use one of many types of psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy. However, therapists often take a specialized approach when working with families.

For example, one therapeutic approach focuses on nonverbal communication and the meaning and impact of behaviors. Another structured technique might use worksheets that each person fills out between sessions.

The worksheets target specific events, interactions, or behaviors. The information gives your therapist unique insight into your family’s challenges, and they use that to guide your next session.

Your therapist chooses the approach that will work best for helping your family solve problems, create a cohesive family unit, and reduce family conflict.

If you need help navigating family struggles and conflicts, call Associates in Behavioral Science or book an appointment online today.