Children ages 10 and up are most appropriate to participate in a virtual family session. At times, it may be clinically indicated to involve a younger child in a directed play therapy component of the session. As I get to know you and your child, we will come up with a thoughtful treatment plan together.

Family therapy can be a valuable resource for improving communication, resolving conflicts, and fostering stronger relationships between parents and children. If family members have been disconnected or hurt by past events, therapy offers a path to healing and restoring a mutual understanding of one another. During family therapy, we will work on issues such as:

Conflict Resolution

• Identifying Root Causes: Therapy helps uncover underlying issues that might be contributing to ongoing conflicts, such as stress, mental health struggles, or unmet needs.

• Developing Coping Skills: Family therapy teaches techniques for managing disagreements in healthier ways, including compromise, de-escalation, and negotiation skills.

• Reducing Power Struggles: Therapy offers a neutral space to understand each other's perspectives, reducing the need for control or dominance.

Increasing Family Support Systems

• Building a Unified Team: Family therapy fosters a sense of "we’re in this together," helping family members recognize the value of supporting one another through difficult times.

• Strengthening Parental Collaboration: When parents are on the same page regarding rules, expectations, and parenting styles, the family unit becomes more stable and effective.

• Facilitating Support Networks: Families often learn to extend their support system beyond the immediate household by reaching out to other relatives or resources for help.

Addressing Behavioral Problems

• Parental Guidance: Therapy offers parents strategies for managing challenging behaviors in their children, such as defiance, aggression, or withdrawal.

• Behavioral Interventions: Therapists may use techniques such as positive reinforcement, setting boundaries, and creating consistency in discipline, leading to better behavior management at home.

• Understanding Developmental Stages: Therapy can provide insights into age-appropriate behaviors and help parents adapt their expectations and responses accordingly.

Reducing Family Tension

• Alleviating Stress: Families often experience high levels of tension and stress. Therapy offers strategies to release that pressure by addressing concerns in a safe, mediated space.

• Minimizing Arguments: When families learn healthy communication and conflict resolution strategies, they are likely to experience fewer arguments and disruptions at home.

• Family Cohesion: As each member works to understand the others, the family unit can become more cohesive, with less division or isolation between members.

Enhancing Parenting Skills

• Parenting Education: Therapists can guide parents in learning effective parenting styles, including how to set boundaries, discipline appropriately, and encourage positive behaviors.

• Building Consistency: Family therapy helps parents establish consistent rules and consequences, creating a stable and predictable environment for children.

• Parent-Child Collaboration: Therapy can encourage cooperative problem-solving, where both parents and children work together to set goals, solve problems, and develop mutual respect.

Improved Communication

• Enhanced Understanding: Family therapy teaches healthy communication techniques, which can help parents and children express their thoughts and feelings in a way that is clear and constructive.

• Active Listening: Both parents and children learn the importance of listening to each other, promoting empathy and mutual respect.

• Breaking Down Communication Barriers: Misunderstandings can be addressed in a safe environment, and communication habits that may have developed over time (e.g., defensive or dismissive behaviors) can be dismantled.