Have you ever wondered what family therapy is like? Perhaps your family is struggling with high conflict, communication issues or frequent emotional outbursts and you’re wondering if family life could be better. Well, we are pleased to let you know that your family doesn’t have to continue to struggle alone. Family therapy can be helpful for a variety of issues including parenting difficulties, divorce, infidelity, grief and loss, physical illness, school refusal, financial struggles and other mental health disorders being experienced by either one or multiple family members. There are various types and benefits of family therapy which we will explore blow.
What happens during family therapy?
During family therapy, you and your family members will meet with a therapist either in their office or virtually by way of a HIPAA compliant video connection. The therapist will assess the presenting issue from each family member’s perspective, ensuring that every family member has a chance to be heard. Together you will all collaborate on setting common goals that will improve any harmful family dynamics and coping methods. Each week, your therapist will check in to see what progress everyone is making and what can be changed to continue to improve your family’s daily functioning. The therapist is an objective outside facilitator in the process. Family therapy is not about focusing solely on who the family thinks is the “problem family member” but rather about treating the family as a whole to heal together.
What are the Different Types of family therapy?
There are various approaches the family therapists might include to help a family some of which might include structural, systemic, narrative and behavioral.
In structural family therapy, the family will learn about healthy boundaries, established roles and how to form strong alliances. In systemic family therapy, the family as a whole is worked with to bring about change that benefits everyone in the family. Narrative family therapy explores the beliefs and stories held by family members that they have come to believe are normal. This type of therapy helps the family gain insight into whether their beliefs and stories are working well for the family. Behavioral family therapy addresses maladaptive behavior patterns with in the family and works to directly change them.
How can Family Therapy help?
Family therapy can help each family member to better understand each other, to learn how to show empathy, to communicate more effectively and to better get their needs met. It can help everyone increase their confidence with emotional expression and assertiveness. Family therapy can also help to establish more healthy boundaries if necessary. Lastly, family therapy can help the family heal together from a loss or cope in healthy ways while a family member is struggling with a physical or mental illness.
Will Health insurance cover my family therapy sessions?
Yes, most health insurance companies will cover family therapy especially if you have outpatient mental health benefits. All our clients are able to use their insurance for family therapy. It’s a different billing code but still yields great coverage. Some people will just have a copay. Only one person in the family is billed for the family session so only one family member would need to be insured.
If you think your family could benefit from family therapy, contact us today.
