Family Therapy
My family never went to family therapy.
In fact, that wasn’t even an option anyone considered. And as an adolescent, I think I would have rather done anything BUT sit in a room with my family along with a therapist prompting REAL discussion.
What we did instead was NOT talk about the hard stuff and skirt around anything that happened to come up. We were pretty good at sweeping things under the rug, then consequently tripping on the lumps!
Looking back, I wish we had had the opportunity to experience what I now know would have been life-changing for all of us. Times were different then; therapy was not as accepted as it is today – or even as available. But what a gift it would have been.
Why do Family Therapy?
Because children carry the burden of their parents unresolved issues.
Need we say more?
The above statement sounds simple, but it is unfortunately true. Our children will carry our burdens in one way or another.
There is not a more effective way to change an environment than to involve everyone. We all as human beings LONG for our family members to know us, hear us, and understand us. It’s not about agreeing with us (although sometimes that would be nice!). Ideally, our family is a safe tribe for us to explore and grow; a haven to weather the storms of life.
While therapy does not come with a magic wand (at least I can’t find one!), bringing in elements of honesty and safely addressing difficult issues can have a drastically positive impact on a family system, cultivating the environment we needed to have and the environment we want for our children (of all ages).
Why involve the kids?
Many people choose not to, and often that is the best choice. However, children are often the symptom-bearers of the dysfunction in the family. This is not to say that children can’t and don’t have issues independent to themselves, but sometimes they tell the story without words. Their behaviors ‘show’ us that something is out of sorts, and then that can become the problem in and of itself.
We can help
Please call us if you want to offer your family some healthy changes, or even if you’d like to enhance what is already working. A brief phone call will help us understand what you are looking for and how we might help!