Family Therapy
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Are you struggling to maintain a healthy dynamic in your family?
Has your child recently gone no contact, began pulling away, or cut you out of their lives?
Do you want to have a better relationship with your parents, but feel like there is no way forward?
Are you struggling to adjust and feeling overwhelmed with a life change, such as struggling to introduce a new partner into your family, or getting accustomed to a newborn baby?
The family unit is a system, and each has its own unique family dynamic.
Sometimes, conflicts can affect families, creating a difficult and tense environment that has emotional impacts on each member of the family. Maybe you’re having trouble feeling heard by members of your family, or that your personal contributions to your family aren’t valued. You might be struggling to get along with your loved ones and are left with feelings of frustration and being disconnected emotionally. These are just a few examples to describe the specific, complex, and delicate issues that can arise, leading to a family unit that is struggling to function.
Despite these troubles, you recognize how important your family is to you - so you’re ready to start the process of reconciling and solving the problem. We understand that it can be overwhelming to try to address these issues on your own because of extensive resources on parenting, or familial advice that tell you what you should or should not do when approaching an issue. This can lead to feelings of confusion on what direction is best for finding solutions.
Family therapy can help you find this direction and figure out what works best for your family, identify the root causes of conflicts, and apply therapeutic tools to navigate and resolve them. At Healing Voices, we can help get your family back on track.
Family Life isn’t always easy.
You might find yourself thinking that other families are happier than yours or that you’re constantly failing at connecting with your family members. It’s important to remind ourselves that no family is perfect, and that it’s okay to get support so that we can effectively work towards improving your familial relationships to where you want them to be in family therapy.
It’s also important to know that you aren’t alone - and that familial relationships can change for the better. 90% of individuals reported better emotional regulation for themselves in family therapy, and 73% of individuals reported better behavioural outcomes for children *1.
Identifying problems in the family unit.
You might not know where to draw the line - something that starts as a simple disagreement can evolve into an intricate problem, impacting family members and causing emotional rifts in a previously peaceful family life. Environmental factors such as culture and individual personalities can influence your personal family dynamic, and it can be hard to identify an unhealthy dynamic from one that you are accustomed to.
Every family has their issues, but when the problems feel like they are winning and we don’t know how to adjust or rebuild the family that we want, seeking out support can help address complicated family problems, including families coping with addiction, behavioural problems, or mental health conditions.
Background factors that you may identify with when considering family therapy:
Communication Issues:
When communication within the family breaks down based on individual and/or environmental factors, misunderstandings can happen, leading to feelings of frustration and isolation for family members. For instance, you might disagree with your partner on how to raise your children.
Life Transitions:
Dealing with significant life transitions such as divorce, a newborn baby, or the loss of a family member can put a family under stress, and it may feel overwhelming to have to navigate through these big changes.
Behavioural Problems:
A child may also be exhibiting disruptive behavioral patterns, such as acting out at school or in the household. A family member may be experiencing a mental health condition or addiction, which can stress and emotionally impact your family.
Cultural and Individual Factors:
Family dynamics are influenced by the culture we are raised in, and this can impact the way parents and children communicate. Individual family members may clash as a result of differing values or ways of perceiving how the family unit should function.
At Healing Voices Psychotherapy we support you through this process and explore differences that can result from the unique combinations of each family, considering individual and cultural values in order to shift narratives of isolation and foster acceptance and understanding for everyone.
How will Family Therapy help us?
Through family therapy, we will focus on identifying where misunderstandings are occurring, and use techniques to improve communication between family members. You will learn to balance competing needs in a family dynamic and incorporate tools to understand developmental needs and effective communication at age-appropriate levels. We will proactively look at how events are affecting family members and how communication is affecting the problem. We offer an unbiased perspective to guide you in understanding your own accountability and how different members' behaviours are contributing to the situation. Following identifying specific issues, our therapists will guide you on how to seek reconciliation and find solutions to resolve conflicts.
In Family Therapy, we utilize the Internal Family Systems (IFS) modality for couples, individuals, families, personality issues, anxiety, addiction, and depression. CBT is used for trauma, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, PTSD, individual adults, children, and teens. In family therapy, we want to work together to guide you towards emotional regulation during conflict, rebuilding trust, and creating positive change in your familial relationships. We emphasize open communication and a supportive environment for every member of the family. By addressing underlying issues, we can help create a safe space and improve communication, so that your family can build stronger internal relationships and navigate future challenges with ease.
Questions you might have about Family Therapy.
Moving forward with bringing your family into a therapeutic space can feel daunting. Coming forward with personal family issues and describing how you feel can be vulnerable, and we are here to make sure any questions and concerns you may have are answered, so you can feel reassured as you take this big and important step in supporting your family.
Seeking therapy is not a sign of failure. In fact, it reflects your commitment to the well-being of your family. Family therapy does not encourage the act of individual blame or a family member being told that they were the problem. Instead family therapy encourages you to practice accountability. Working together as a family is a continuous learning experience. Participating in Family Therapy demonstates your dedication to foster a healthy family environment.
Does going to family therapy mean I have failed as a parent?
2. My teenager does not want to go to family therapy, but I believe it would benefit our family. What should I do?
Unfortunately, you cannot make your child participate in family therapy unless there is a court order to attend family therapy. Being open and honest with your teen about why you want to work on the relationship is a great place to start. Other therapeutic methods may also improve familial relationships and can provide effective communication tools that can also work with communicating with your teen at home. For example, couples counselling is a type of therapy we provide that may be helpful for you and your parenting partner(s) to create plans and be on the same page as one another when deciding how to parent your child and navigate their life transitions.
3. Is Family Therapy only for families in crisis, or can it help with more commonplace problems my family may be experiencing?
Family therapy can help with a range of issues - it can be a tool for crisis intervention, and it can also be used to proactively address minor concerns. Importantly, family therapy provides an opportunity to support families through a variety of circumstances, from complex life transitions to everyday challenges, and providing the tools to navigating them as a family.
Why do a free, 15-minute consultation?
The free 15-minute consultation gives you an opportunity to discuss your circumstances with one of our compassionate therapists. We will go over your current concerns and set your therapeutic goals. By speaking with your therapist, you are taking the first step to resolving these challenges so that you can take charge of your wellbeing and live a life of fulfillment.
Begin the process of healing today.
Family therapy at Healing Voices Psychotherapy can empower you with valuable insights, and help your mental health tool kit through guidance for more effective communication. We want to support your family to create lasting positive changes in your family dynamic. It takes strength to recognize the need for support, and with Healing Voices Psychotherapy, you are taking action to create a future of well-being for your family.
Our therapists at Healing Voices Psychotherapy are here to help. Please call our virtual clinic at 705-715-9107 for your consultation.
Our Family Therapist
I'm Alysha Plaggemeier, M.A., RP, your Family Therapist and Relationship Expert. If you and your family are navigating challenges in your relationships, I'm here to support you on your journey toward a healthier and more connected future. With my Master's degree in Counselling Psychology and diverse experience, I excel in working with families from various backgrounds, including those in LGBTQ2IA families, monogamous and polyamorous family structures, individuals facing pregnancy-related issues, veterans, and families of military members.
I use the Internal Family Systems approach to meet the dynamic needs of families and create a safe space for growth and understanding. Within the IFS lens, families can explore and address issues through a nuanced understanding of family dynamics, promoting healing and positive change.
With our accessible online therapy option, I am here to guide you through the journey of building stronger and more fulfilling family relationships. It's time to take the first step toward a brighter future together.
When a family member suffers from substance abuse, it affects the entire family unit. No family is the same so each situation is unique to itself.