Family therapy is more or less exactly what it sounds like…therapy that addresses challenges within families! Rather than relying on one family member seeking treatment, family counseling helps all members of the family at the same time. Conversations between family members can then take place in a neutral, safe environment with an unbiased mediator, a family therapist, who is there to make sure everyone is heard equally.
When is it time to get a family therapist?
It’s always a good time to see a family therapist! As human beings, we often experience a lot of complicated feelings and navigate challenging situations so having a trusted source of support to vent to and share with is always beneficial to someone’s mental wellbeing. In other words, you can be in a good place and still go to therapy!
However, therapists are especially helpful when people are having a hard time moving past certain conflicts or are dealing with particularly upsetting feelings. For example, if you and your family are having the same fight over and over or if multiple family members seem to be doing poorly, family therapy may be beneficial.
What does family therapy do?
Family therapy can do many things…
-Identify and address problems
-Conflict resolution
-Better communication
-Make sure feelings are understood
-Help family members draw boundaries
-Deal with grieving
-Give strategies to practice at home
Our Approach to Family Therapy in Colorado Springs
At Solace Solutions, we take an eclectic approach to family counseling….
This means that we use many different approaches! We prefer to treat families together rather than carry out sessions with individual family members. To understand what family issues may be occurring, we first assess what’s going on.
1. Understanding the big picture in family counseling
When it comes to family dynamics, there can be a lot going on. Often, families will come in because a child is misbehaving, but later it will come out that the parents are having marital problems. To get the big picture of what’s going on at home, we take a holistic approach. In other words, we look at all of the factors.
-What’s happening in the home environment?
-Who are the kids spending their time with?
-What is happening for the kids at school?
-What are the parents’ work environments like?
-How do the parents communicate with and treat each other?
-How do the siblings communicate with and treat each other?
-What is discipline like?
-How do the kids feel about their parents?
-How do the parents feel about their kids?
We also look into the individual factors of each family member to gain a better understanding of what everyone is personally experiencing too.
Once we know what’s going on within the family structure…
We use different approaches to help the family solve whatever issues they are facing or discuss whatever feelings they are having.
2. Techniques and Strategies in Family Counseling
-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
If you read this month’s blog posts on depression (here) and anxiety (here), you are already familiar with CBT. For those of you who may not be, CBT is used to uncover negative core beliefs about oneself that impact how a person goes about their life. Once the core belief is identified, it can be reframed toward a positive belief that helps someone feel better about themselves and others!
-Person-Centered Therapy
Sometimes the most important thing a family therapist can do is make sure every family member gets a chance to share their feelings. Person-centered family counseling allows one person to take the spotlight and gives them the space to get whatever they need off of their chest.
-Reflective Listening
Not only can a family therapist make sure there is space for everyone to talk, but they can also help other family members engage in reflective listening where the speaker’s feelings are being echoed back to them. This type of listening ensures that the speaker is understood by other people.
-Identify Thinking Errors
Often, people get stuck in negative thinking patterns and those thinking patterns can be based on thinking errors. For example, thinking things are always bad no matter what is a thinking error that can lead to conflict. Therapists can help family members identify thinking errors so they can be mindful of their negative habits and thoughts when relating with others.
-Other
Other strategies can include motivational interviewing, where a therapist questions and affirms certain statements a person makes to help them become more of the person they want to be. Another activity we use at Solace Solutions in family therapy is asking family members to write “do not send letters,” allowing them to communicate and understand their feelings about others without worrying about offending or hurting anyone else.
Get Help with Family Therapy in Colorado Springs, CO
Family counseling is complex! There are many approaches to help you and your family talk through important feelings or resolve significant conflicts. Or, a family therapist can simply support your family while having meaningful and productive communication. Want to schedule an appointment at Solace Solutions? Follow these steps.
- Reach out for a free consultation
- Schedule your first family therapy appointment
- Start connecting and communicating with your loved ones
Other Therapy Services we Offer in Colorado Springs, CO
Our caring therapists offer support through family counseling, couples therapy, and individual therapy. This includes treatment for trauma, anxiety, and depression for both adults and teens. All of these services are offered in-person at our Colorado Springs-based practice and online throughout Colorado.
