Family Therapy
Does Your Family Feel Chaotic, Confusing And Out Of Your Control?
Are your children struggling with behavioral issues, refusing to go to school, throwing tantrums or not listening? Maybe one or more of your children are either acting out or shutting down. It might be that your family is dealing with the after effects of a trauma and you feel lost, confused and unsure of how to help. Your kids may be having a hard time communicating and self-regulating, and it seems that no matter what you try, your attempts to calm and comfort are not working. Perhaps no one is doing what they need to do and everyday feels like a struggle, especially if your children are fighting or you and your partner or ex-partner are out of alignment on parenting styles.
It might be that one of your children is causing constant problems, acting out at school or struggling with depression, anxiety or ADHD. Their behavior may be disrupting harmony for the rest of the family. Maybe you feel guilty, wondering what you did wrong, or you feel frustrated by not being able to figure out how to help. Do you wish you could get to the root of the issues? Help your kids feel happy and healthy? Cultivate peace and harmony in your family?
All Families Go Through Challenges
Parenting is hard, and every family has issues. Our children do not come with manuals. They can and will trigger almost every issue you’ve ever had. All relationships come with challenges, and this is magnified within families. Everyone has their own thoughts, feelings and experiences that affect how they interact with one another, leading to contentious or challenging situations.
Families and children are highly dynamic. It’s difficult for everyone to be okay at once. As parents, it seems like once we have a handle on an issue, our children move into a new developmental stage, or something happens in life. Then we’re right back to square one. Every day can feel like a struggle when family members are not getting along, kids are behaving in concerning ways and no one is doing what they are supposed to be doing, no matter how hard you try.
As parents, we are expected to handle so much—even when we are having a hard time. We need help too. It’s okay—and actually responsible—to reach out for support. As Emotionally Focused Family Therapists, we can help. We know both personally and professionally of the challenges that come with raising a family. With a highly effective, evidence-based approach to family therapy, you can get to the heart of what’s happening while promoting emotional closeness and safety within your family.
Family Therapy Promotes Open Communication And Connection
Emotionally Focused Family Therapy gets to the root of your family’s issues while restoring balance and functionality to everyday life. This evidence-based and highly effective model helps family members turn toward each other for support during difficult times. Your family can learn how to interact with one another in more positive ways. Through this family therapy approach, each member of your family can find increased capacity for support and connection.
As parents, we can be triggered during interactions with our kids, which can bring up thoughts and emotions from our past. Or perhaps you are burdened with guilt, frustration and worry that can affect how you interact with your children. In family therapy, you can work through these issues in a safe, nonjudgmental space, leading to an increased capacity to be there for your kids.
In family therapy sessions, everyone has a voice so that each member of your family feels heard and supported. It’s important that everyone’s experience is normalized and validated as we get to the heart of what is causing distress within your family. We provide a safe space where everyone can talk about what they are thinking and feeling, while helping you develop a better and more compassionate understanding of each other. Whether you’re dealing with separate homes or an intact or blended family, we take a compassionate and nonjudgmental approach to all of the work we do.
We provide psychoeducation and knowledge of developmental stages and brain development, which helps to alter expectations. We also offer information on the nervous system and how to help your children regulate using mindfulness and somatic (body-based) techniques. We understand every family is different. We’ll focus on your specific issues, needs and goals as we tailor tips, techniques and strategies to best support your family’s needs.
It is possible to create more harmony in your home. In the safe space of family therapy you can gain an understanding of one another and experience moments of deep connection. This change will increase peace in your home, creating more moments of fun and laughter.
You still might wonder if family counseling is right for you…
Not everyone in our family is willing to attend family therapy. Can it still be effective if only some of us participate?
Absolutely. Bring in the family members who are willing. We can work with whoever is in the room on a given day and you can still see improvement. Any changes members of the family make can have a positive ripple effect within the family system.
Those who attend receive valuable support and the safe space in which to be heard, seen and understood. Also, when reluctant family members see and feel positive shifts in other members of the family, they may become more open to the idea of trying a session.
I worry my fears about being an awful parent will be confirmed in sessions and that I’d be judged and feel even worse.
Being a parent is hard! We take a completely nonjudgmental approach to family therapy. We provide a safe space in which to explore any fears or doubts you have, offering compassionate support during this challenging time. While society judges parents, that is not my role. Instead, we are here to help you explore and process what you are going through while supporting you as you cultivate more peace and harmony in your home.
Just one of my children is really struggling and creating discord for everyone else. Should we seek individual counseling for him or her, or is it better for the whole family to be there?
The “problem child” is often referred to as the symptom bearer of the family. He or she might be more sensitive, and may be experiencing anxiety, depression, ADHD or the after effects of trauma. While individual therapy can be helpful, family therapy may be more effective. Family therapy can address dynamics within the family that are inadvertently contributing to the “problem child’s” symptoms. Family dynamics can then improve, increasing overall connection and communication, which benefits each member of your family.
You Can Cultivate Harmony In Your Home
Parenting is hard and families are complicated. Regardless of what you’re experiencing right now, it is possible to cultivate increased peace and harmony within your family. If you’re seeking a highly skilled, compassionate and practical family therapist in Broomfield, CO or the surrounding area, we can help. We invite you to contact us at (303) 606-6818 to schedule an initial call. We are happy to discuss your situation, needs and goals and how we can best support you and your family.