Life rarely hands us a smooth road, and navigating the twists and turns of relationships, both romantic and familial, can be especially challenging. Sometimes, communication gets lost in translation, past hurts resurface, or simply the demands of life pull us and our loved ones in different directions. If you’re feeling disconnected, misunderstood or overwhelmed within your family or a romantic partnership, relationship therapy could put you and your loved ones back on the right track.
Types of challenges
As a licensed marriage and family therapist, I believe that every relationship has the potential for strong, healthy connections. I’m here to guide you on a journey of rediscovering understanding, trust and growth through challenges such as:
- Marital and couple conflict
- Co-parenting with an ex-partner
- Men’s issues
- Parenting children with exceptional needs
- Separation or divorce
Knowing when you may need help relationship therapy
Deciding whether or not to seek family therapy can be a tough call, and there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. However, there are some signs that could suggest it might be a helpful step for your family. Here are some things to consider:
- Communication breakdowns: Feeling unheard or disrespected by other family members or an inability to resolve conflicts constructively, leading to anger or resentment.
- Emotional distance: Feeling disconnected from other family members or lacking a sense of closeness, difficulty expressing affection or experiencing emotional warmth within the family or withdrawing from family activities or spending less time together.
- Significant life changes or challenges: Major life events such as a death, divorce or illness causing stress and tension within the family; difficulty adjusting to new family dynamics, like blended families or new siblings; or struggling with mental health issues, substance abuse or behavioral problems within the family.
- Specific red flags: Difficulty having open and honest conversations, with frequent arguments or misunderstandings; physical or emotional abuse in the family; substance abuse or addiction affecting family members; unmanageable conflict that disrupts daily life; or feelings of helplessness or despair related to your family situation.
Ultimately, the decision to seek family therapy is a personal one. The important thing is to prioritize your family’s well-being and reach out for help if you feel it’s needed. Taking that step can be especially transformative when you consider the unique strengths of family systems therapy.
How I can help
Sometimes, the roadblocks to happiness run deeper than individual struggles. While traditional family or couples therapy often places the onus on the “identified patient” – the family member presenting the most visible symptoms – family systems therapy shifts the focus from the individual to the system itself. By taking a step back, we can acknowledge that individuals are shaped and influenced by their family history, upbringing and wider family constellation. This broader lens allows us to identify unseen patterns, unspoken expectations and intergenerational conflicts that might be impacting the current relationship.
Sessions can involve just you as an individual, you and your partner, or you and several members of the family. Through open communication, role-playing and other exercises, you and your family members can build empathy, gain new perspectives and create healthier boundaries, ultimately strengthening the foundation of relationships. This systemic approach can bring lasting positive change, allowing you and your loved ones to navigate future challenges with newfound understanding and support.
Get started today
Build stronger bonds and a more supportive environment for everyone. Take the first step towards a happier, more loving family today.
