Family is one of the most important aspects of our lives. It is where we learn how to interact with others, and it is the first place we experience love and support. When family relationships are healthy, they provide a strong foundation for happiness and well-being.
But when a family has problems, the effects can be devastating. It can start from something small, like a disagreement over how to discipline a child, and spiral out of control. The arguing may get worse, or one family member may start withdrawing from the rest of the group. Soon, the whole family is affected.
Family Behavioral Theories
People have different personalities, behaviors, and ways of thinking. And there was an old belief that when a couple starts their family and has their child their relationship will change for the worse. The husband and wife are now responsible for this new life, and they have to put their own needs aside to take care of their little one. That their personality would change to suit the needs of the family. However, this is not always the case.
What ends up happening instead is that one or more members of the family start to feel like they have to adjust their personality in order to meet the expectations of others. This can be very damaging to both the individual and the family as a whole.
Theorists like Abraham Maslow believed that people need to satisfy their basic needs before they could move on to higher-level needs, like belongingness and love.
So, What Does This Have to Do with Family Therapy?
Family therapists believe that the family is a system. That is, each member of the family impacts every other member. And just like any system, it has its own rules and ways of functioning. When something happens in one part of the system, it affects everything else.
What happens when things start to go wrong? What if you’re struggling with issues like communication problems, anger, depression, or addiction? That’s where family therapy comes in.
So, What Is Family Therapy?
Family therapy is a type of therapy that helps families resolve conflicts and improve relationships. It is usually done with a therapist who specializes in family therapy.
Family therapists help families understand how their system works and how each member’s behavior affects the whole. They also help family members learn new ways of interacting with each other that will make them happier and more productive. Family therapy can be a great way to resolve conflicts, repair relationships, and strengthen families. They can also give you tools to help improve communication within the family and resolve conflicts.
In What Ways Can Family Therapy Help?
Problems within the family can have a ripple effect on every aspect of our lives. And if you feel that your family can’t seem to get past their issues, family therapy may be the answer and can help resolve these problems and improve family dynamics. Family therapy can help in a variety of ways:
- Improving communication within the family
- Resolving conflicts between family members
- Repairing relationships between the couple
- Repairing relationships between siblings
- Increasing emotional support for each member of the family
- Children’s behavior problems
- Death in the family
- Developing better problem-solving skills
- Improving family functioning as a whole
- Infidelity
- Separation or divorce
- A plan for sharing custody of children
What Happens in a Family Therapy Session?
Therapists who specialize in family therapy use different techniques to help families heal their relationships. These techniques can vary depending on the therapist’s approach and the needs of the family. Some common approaches used in family therapy session includes:
Behavioral Therapy
This approach focuses on changing problematic behaviors within the family. The therapist will work with the family to identify specific behaviors that are causing problems, and then help them develop strategies to change those behaviors.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
This approach also focuses on changing problematic behaviors, but it takes a more cognitive approach to therapy. The therapist will help the family learn how to think differently about their problems, and then apply those new thoughts to their behavior.
Structural Family Therapy
This approach looks at the structure of the family and how it affects the individual family members. The therapist will help the family to identify and change any dysfunctional patterns that are causing problems.
Systems Theory
This approach looks at the family as a system, and how all of the individual parts work together to create a whole. The therapist will help the family to see how their behavior affects everyone else in the system, and how they can change their behavior to create a healthier family.
Where to Find a Family Therapist or Clinic
If you are looking for a family therapist, try these resources:
- The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT): This is a professional organization of family therapists. You can use their directory to find a therapist in your area.
- Your insurance company: Many insurance companies offer coverage for family therapy.
- Local mental health clinics: These clinics often offer sliding scale fees, which means that you can pay based on your income.
- Online directories: There are many online directories of therapists.
- Therapist referrals from friends or family members: If you know someone who has seen a family therapist, they may be able to refer you to a good one.
Remember to talk to the therapists first before making an appointment to make sure that they are a good fit for you.
Conclusion
So, what is family therapy? Family therapy is a type of counseling that helps families work through difficult issues together. It can be helpful for problems such as communication difficulties, fighting and arguing, or coping with a major change in the family, like the death of a loved one.
Family therapists will talk to you and your family about the problems that you are experiencing. They will help you to understand what is causing these problems, and they will give you tools to help you solve them.
Family therapy can’t always solve all of your problems, but it can help you to understand and deal with them in a healthier way. It can also give the family a new and healthier way to communicate with each other and solve the problems themselves.
