It is not abnormal for families to go through times of stress and difficulty. As a unit, family represents love, safety, and emotional bond. But sometimes, this unit can feel fractured and grow apart as a result of anger, conflict, or grief. When these times inevitably arise, it might be worth considering a family therapy program.
Family therapy is a form of mental health therapy that seeks to understand and address the issues between family members. When considering family therapy programs in Los Angeles, it is important to have a firm understanding of how family therapy works and its benefits.
Reach out to Peer Mental Wellness at 714.844.5473 to learn more.
WHAT IS FAMILY THERAPY?
Family therapy is a form of therapy focused on the interpersonal relationships between family members. While individual therapy is concerned solely with one person, family therapy takes the perspective of all family members into account when offering guidance. Therapists will look into how the behavioral dynamics between family members affect both the individual and the family as a whole. Issues often dealt with in family therapy are:
- Conflict and tension between members
- Trauma relating to grief, death, and violence
- Problems in school or work
- Addiction
- A family member’s mental health
- Issues between siblings
- Infidelity
- Separation and divorce
The goal of family therapy is to bring family members together so that they may get to the root cause of the problems affecting their family. To facilitate this, therapists will often talk to everyone in the family individually, asking each their perspective on the issue at hand. From this point, a treatment plan will be crafted tailored to the needs of both the family and its members.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAMILY THERAPY AND FAMILY COUNSELING?
Family therapy and family counseling are often used as interchangeable terms. However, there is a difference between the two that is worth noting. Sessions can be led by certified therapists, trained counselors, social workers, or psychologists. The difference between a family therapy program and a family counseling program is the engagement of a therapist or a counselor. A therapist may have different credentials than a counselor and is more likely to be able to offer long-term care.
HOW DOES FAMILY THERAPY COMPARE TO OTHER MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENTS?
Like any form of mental health treatment, family therapy cannot guarantee that it will make all a family’s problems disappear. What it can guarantee is that family members will be provided with skills, tools, and coping mechanisms that can help them overcome their issues. The benefits can include:
- Conflict resolution: Family therapy provides a safe space for family members to air their grievances without the fear of rejection or having their feelings neglected.
- Improved communication: One of the main skills families learn in family therapy is how to communicate with one another in a way that makes each member of the family feel respected and acknowledged.
- Development of boundaries: Family therapists can help patients identify the boundaries they want and guide patients in how to best establish them.
- Improved family problem-solving skills: As family members learn how to better communicate and express their feelings their ability to solve their issues will improve.
- Cultivation of useful coping mechanisms and tools: Just because issues can be resolved in therapy doesn’t mean that new issues won’t pop up in the future. Developing and cultivating useful coping mechanisms and tools is a way for families to ensure that they know how to be there for each other.
Family therapy is a form of mental health treatment that can help families maintain their bonds and love for one another. Problems at home can affect all areas of family members’ lives. It can affect performance at school and work and even wither away at our relationships outside of the household. That is why it is important to speak to a professional so that these issues may be understood before they cause any unwanted trouble.
CONTACT PEER MENTAL WELLNESS FOR FAMILY THERAPY PROGRAMS IN LOS ANGELES
At Peer Mental Wellness, our team of mental health professionals is experienced and dedicated to helping patients find the best therapy/counseling for their specific needs, whether they be personal or family-related. For more information on family therapy programs in Los Angeles, contact Peer Mental Wellness today at 714.844.5473.
