What is Family Therapy?

As children, we rely heavily on our families to meet our needs and we learn essential life skills from them. Due to this connection, family-based therapy could be effective for gaining a deeper understanding of ourselves and reframing negative memories, since many of our habits and thoughts stem from our family environment. In our fourth and final installment of the “Types of Therapy” series, we will be exploring Family Therapy -  a type of treatment that addresses issues that specifically affect the mental health and functioning of the entire family.

By working with multiple family members, family therapy works to improve communication, manage conflicts, understand the unique issues the family faces, and build stronger relationships. As the field of psychology has evolved, the concept of family is more commonly described as a support system in which roles and relationships between individuals are long-term, whether they are blood-related or related through marriage. A family therapist is a relational therapist, meaning they are more focused on what goes on between individuals rather than focusing on what is going on with an individual. A family therapist will meet with different members of the family unit at the same time to better understand family dynamics and to focus on familial patterns. A family therapist may also use instruments, such as creating a genogram, to help identify these patterns across generations.

 Family Therapy Approaches

There are different approaches and techniques utilized in family therapy that depend on the therapist’s theoretical orientation and on the specific needs of the family. Some common approaches include:

Systemic Approach: This approach views the family as a unit where each member's actions affect the others. The therapist poses problems for the family to solve together, aiming to understand their belief systems and how they influence other family members. The goal is to improve family interactions by utilizing some the following techniques: deconstructing the problem, identifying patterns, and examining each member’s beliefs, emotions, and attachments.

Structural Approach: This approach focuses on adjusting and strengthening family dynamics to address emotional and behavioral concerns in children. By understanding family interactions and hierarchies, the therapist helps establish healthy boundaries to support the family unit as a whole. This may involve the therapist simulating being a part of the family to enhance their ability to help strengthen family relationships.

Strategic Approach: This approach is different from other forms of treatment because the therapist is not concerned with the history of the issue within the family unit. Instead, the therapist helps individuals think strategically and act on solutions that can help them now. It is a solution-based approach to family therapy that focuses on identifying solvable problems, setting achievable goals, and creating strategies to achieve them. To maximize the development of each individual, the therapist might assign "homework" to help family members assess and adjust the way they communicate and make decisions.

Who Can Family Therapy Help?

Family therapy can help with issues such as: behavioral problems with children or teens, changes in the family, trouble communicating, grief, divorce, conflicts between parents and children, and parenting issues. Studies show that family therapy can also be helpful for adult issues like relationship problems, violence between partners, mood disorders, and anxiety. More research is needed to understand how family therapy can be most helpful and how it compares to other treatments.

Family Therapy Benefits

Family therapy helps families communicate better, understand each other's needs, and resolve conflicts. Family therapy provides better coping strategies for handling difficult situations, helps family member develop healthy boundaries, and focuses on helping family members support each other while taking care of their own well-being.

Family Therapy Limitations

Family therapy involves discussing emotional problems and conflicts, which can be at times be difficult. In some cases, people may feel worse before they start to improve. It's important to remember that a professional therapist is there to help family members work through these conflicts and handle intense emotions. While family therapy can be helpful for various issues, it may not be the right choice for everyone or every situation. Other types of treatment that may be useful include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) or dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT).

Conclusion

Family therapy is often short-term, but it may also take place for a year or longer, depending on the situation and needs of the family. While it frequently involves all family unit members, it may also focus on those who are willing or able to participate in treatment. During therapy sessions, the therapist will ask questions to learn more about the problems that have brought the family to therapy. They will also look at other factors contributing to issues, such as underlying mental health conditions and environmental stress. This type of therapy is often provided by licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), but it can also be practiced by other mental health professionals, such as psychologists and social workers. If you are interested in trying family therapy, reach out and we can help! You can also search the online directory at the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy website.