Counseling For Families
We all begin our lives in a family, and this is where we learn about ourselves, the world around us and how to love and how to engage with others; essentially we become the people we are, in large part, because of our families. We don’t get to choose our families, however. While many people grow up in a family with healthy relationships, there are many who do not. Those born into a dysfunctional family may struggle with communication, parenting, boundaries and other areas later in life. Regardless of one’s beginnings, nearly all families go through challenges at some time or another. If your family is going through a difficult time, family counseling can make a difference.
Reasons to Seek Family Counseling
Blended family challenges
Financial stressors
Communication issues between family members
Child/teen behavioral problems
Parenting disagreements
Significant situational changes (a move, divorce or separation, death)
Family member with an addiction or mental illness
When a Family Member Has an Addiction or Mental Illness
Dealing with mental health issues like anxiety, depression or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can be very painful and exhausting for the individual, but we would be remiss to not mention the effects that a family member’s mental illness can have on the rest of the family. Often people with a mental health disorder isolate themselves from their loved ones, or lash out unintentionally. Close family members are often worried, upset or confused by the person’s behaviors. Several studies state that a large majority of the family members around a person with mental illness also developed physical (migraines, fatigue, insomnia, loss of appetite), psychological (guilt, fear, anger, anxiety) and behavioral troubles (changes in attitude, social withdrawal). Many of these family members sought out individual counseling to deal with the symptoms.
The Goal of Family Counseling
The goal of family therapy is to improve conflicts or issues in a family, not to blame anyone for the issues. Your therapist will help family members communicate better, solve problems, and find new ways to work together. Family therapy can't always make a problem go away. But it can give family members new skills to get through difficult situations in healthier ways.
If your family is going through a tough time, family counseling can make a difference. It can help couples, children, or members of an extended family learn to communicate better and work through conflicts. Avenues of Counseling and Mediation has multiple providers who are licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT, IMFT), or have other licences with advanced training in working with families. Check out our counselors’ biographies in the Medina or Akron, Ohio office.