Family therapy aims to address specific issues that affect the emotional and psychological health of the family unit.
Families are drawn to treatment for a variety of reasons, ranging from:
- Stressful events that can generate tension in relationships (e.g., the death of a family member, a divorce/separation, financial hardship, relocation of a loved one due to immigration)
- Everyday concerns (e.g., behavioral problems in children and adolescents, parents experiencing conflict in their relationship, communication problems)
- Mental health concerns that affect the family unit (e.g., substance use, eating disorders, severe depression)
People who participate in family therapy learn more about how families function generally and, more uniquely, how their own functions. It teaches family members to identify relational patterns that are contributing to conflicts, and helps them to develop strategies to handle and resolve such conflicts more effectively. In the context of a safe and mutually respectful treatment environment, family therapy seeks to increase self-awareness, improve communication, strengthen boundaries, and achieve greater intimacy amongst family members.
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