What is Family Therapy and How Does it Help?
You have noticed that your family is struggling, and you want to find a way to help. You have seen the research supporting the effectiveness of family therapy, but you're wary of what it involves. Family therapy could be the answer you've been searching for. However, you don't know what it is, or how it could benefit your family. In this blog post, we'll explore what family therapy is and how it can help your family's dynamic become healthier and more harmonious.
What is Family Therapy?
Family therapy is a powerful tool for your family's healing and growth. It is a type of counseling that involves a therapist working with your entire family. The therapist will create an environment where each family member is listened to and respected. It involves open conversations about family dynamics, communication styles, and behavior patterns with your therapist.
The goal of family therapy is to ensure that each family member feels heard and understood. This is while they are also helping you and your family to build skills to foster better communication and a healthier family dynamic. It will also help to break the patterns of behavior that have been causing tension, stress, and anxiety in your family. At Inward Counseling our skilled team of therapists works with families to achieve these goals.
How Does it Help Your Family?
Family therapy helps families in a variety of ways. Your family therapist will support you and your family members to find ways to understand each other better, learn constructive ways to communicate and develop the skills needed to build a healthier relationship. There are other benefits as well.
Improved Communication
In family counseling, you and your family will learn effective communication skills. This will help your family to better express their needs and wants more constructively. It will help to manage conflict by reducing arguments and increasing understanding between all members of your family. For example, family therapy can help family members to learn how to express their thoughts and feelings respectfully. By using "I" statements instead of “you” statements, family members can express their needs without attacking each other.
Reduced Stress and Anxiety
By going to family therapy, you and your family will be able to work through any difficult emotions in a safe environment. By having the support of a therapist to help everyone address their feelings and emotions, family members can feel more at ease. This can help to reduce stress and anxiety for everyone involved.
In family therapy sessions at Inward Counseling, we use a holistic psychology approach to family therapy, which includes techniques like mindfulness and self-compassion that can help reduce stress and anxiety. We believe that by deeply understanding the whole mind, body, and spirit of everyone involved, we can help families heal and grow.
Express Feelings in a Healthy Way
Along with being able to communicate more effectively, you and your family will be able to express your feelings and emotions in a healthy way. Family therapy will help you to learn how to express your feelings without attacking or belittling other family members. Instead of attacking or belittling, you will learn to express your feelings constructively. This will help all family members to feel respected and understood.
For example, you will be able to share your feelings without making others feel guilty or ashamed. You may say something like “I feel frustrated when…” rather than “You make me so angry…” or “You always do this…” This is more constructive and will help your family understand your feelings better.
Understand Family Patterns and Roles
In family therapy, we also use a Bowenian family therapy approach. This approach allows your therapist to help you and your family understand patterns that persist across generations and learn how to break them. This is beneficial for you and your family because it will help you all to understand the roles and patterns within your family and how they affect your relationship.
For example, if a family has a pattern of avoiding difficult conversations or problems, the therapist can help them to identify this pattern and find ways to break it. Or, if the family has a pattern of one person taking on the role of ‘caretaker’, the therapist can help them to understand why this is happening and find healthier ways for family members to interact.
Become a Healthier Family Unit with Family Therapy in Charlotte, NC
Seeking support for you and your family can be a difficult but worthwhile decision. At Inward Counseling, we believe that family therapy is an effective way to address underlying issues and help gain skills to improve your family dynamics. Our team of caring therapists works with you to foster healthy communication, empathy, and understanding within the family. If you are ready to begin therapy:
We invite you to schedule a free 15-minute consultation or call us at 704-255-5114
Meet our caring family therapist
Begin working towards a healthier family unit today!
Other Therapy Services Offered at Inward Counseling
Family therapy is just one of the many therapy services we offer at our practice. We also offer trauma therapy, anxiety therapy, depression therapy, couples therapy, and Christian counseling. We primarily offer online therapy. We can also accommodate in-person services at our Charlotte, NC, or Pineville, NC therapy based office. Feel free to explore our blogs for great reads and tips for managing life’s challenges.