Read Our 2023 Annual Outcomes Report

Family Therapy & Counseling

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Family therapy is designed to bring loved ones together through evidence-based practices that foster healthy communication

Family Therapy Overview

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What is family therapy?

Family therapy is a type of counseling that helps families deal with conflict mediation, communication, anger management, and other relational skills. It focuses on the family system, not just on individual family members.

When we address the root causes of mental health challenges by caring for the family as a whole, we can identify a more sustainable path to healing.

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A critical connection

Family therapy can help family members better relate to each other, resolve difficult issues, and cope with big life challenges. It can also help you better understand your loved ones’ emotions, behaviors, and problems. In focusing on the entire family system, obstacles can be overcome together.

The challenges family therapy can address:

Family therapy is a core component of our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), and by supporting families as a unit, we provide the essential tools and skills needed to better understand, connect, and forge a path towards wellbeing.

Coping skills

Substance use disorders

Death of a loved one

Major life transitions (new move, new job or school, divorce, etc.)

Conflicts over screen time, friend groups, or curfews

Problems between siblings or other family members

The strategies we create:

When families are stuck in conflict, there is rarely a simple answer or explanation. But the job of your family therapist is to help you develop a plan to address these issues.

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Experience fewer outbursts and create more opportunities for problem solving

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Learn to self-regulate and gain a sense of ownership over emotions

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Develop a method for troubleshooting family struggles and understand which skills to draw upon when new problems arise

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Begin to work with each other, instead of against each other

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Practice active listening in order to create more trusting communication

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Grow comfortable discussing challenges, discoveries, and accomplishments openly and honestly without withdrawing or reacting

Start your healing journey

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From our first admissions call with you, we are focused on identifying the root causes of your struggles. We work with you and your family to process challenges, identify solutions, and grow together.

The core mental health conditions we support

Anxiety Disorders

Generalized anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks, panic disorder, agoraphobia

Depression

Major depression, melancholic depression, atypical depression, seasonal affective disorder, persistent depressive disorder

Dissociative Disorders

Dissociative identity disorder, dissociative amnesia, psychosis, depersonalization-derealization disorder

Gender Identity & Dysphoria

Gender identity issues, gender dysphoria

Mood Disorders

Disruptive mood disorder, bipolar I, bipolar II, dissociative identity disorder, schizophrenia

Neurodivergence

ADHD, conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, learning difficulties, developmental issues

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders

Co-occurring anxiety disorders, co-occurring depressive disorders, obsessive-compulsive personality disorder

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders

Perinatal or postpartum mood disorder, anxiety disorder, psychosis, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Personality Disorders

Avoidant personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, impulsive personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, obsessive compulsive personality disorder, and histrionic personality disorder

Postpartum Depression

Perinatal depression

Self-Harm

Self-harm, self-injury, suicidal ideation, suicide survival

Substance Use Disorders

Alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs, amphetamines, cocaine, inhalants, hallucinogens, nicotine

Trauma

Acute trauma, chronic trauma, complex trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder

FAQs for Family Therapy

See All FAQs

What questions do family therapists ask?

  • What brings you to therapy?
  • Can you tell me about your family history?
  • Who are the members of your family?
  • How do you communicate with one another?
  • How do you typically resolve conflicts?
  • What are your goals for therapy?

What are the boundaries in family therapy?

  • Confidentiality
    Family therapy sessions are typically confidential, meaning that what is discussed in therapy is not shared with others outside of the therapy setting without the family’s consent.
  • Respectful communication
    Family therapists will encourage family members to communicate with each other in a respectful and non-judgmental way. They may set ground rules for communication in therapy sessions, such as avoiding blame and speaking from one’s own perspective.
  • Clear roles and responsibilities
    Family therapists may help family members to clarify their roles and responsibilities within the family and to establish clear expectations for how they will interact with one another.
  • Healthy boundaries between family members
    Family therapists may work with family members to establish healthy boundaries between them, such as respecting each other’s personal space and privacy and setting limits on how much they will rely on one another for emotional support.
  • Respect for cultural and individual differences
    Family therapists will work to understand and respect the cultural and individual differences that exist within the family and will help family members to appreciate and value these differences.

What are the goals of family therapy?

  • Improve communication
  • Build stronger relationships
  • Identify and address problems
  • Promote individual growth
  • Enhance problem-solving skills
  • Improve overall family functioning

What are four common family therapy techniques?

  • Structural family therapy focuses on the patterns of relationships within the family, and how they influence behavior with the ultimate goal of improving the family’s overall functioning.
  • Brief strategic family therapy emphasizes problem-solving and goal-setting while helping the family identify specific goals and develop a plan for achieving them.
  • Narrative family therapy views problems as external to the family and emphasizes the importance of understanding the stories and narratives that families use to process their experiences.
  • Attachment-based family therapy aims to help young people develop more secure attachments with their parents or caregivers by providing a safe and supportive environment for healing and growth.

What is the success rate of family therapy?

According to the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, about 90% of individuals who participate in family therapy report improvement in their emotional health, and over two-thirds report improvement in their physical health. Critically, studies have found that family therapy can be particularly effective in reducing symptoms of mental health issues in teens and young adults.

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Comprehensive mental health treatment from home

90% of Charlie Health clients and their families would recommend Charlie Health