Family Therapy
$150 per session
I work best with families who:
are navigating the changing dynamics of teenage years
are adjusting to a step-family structure
Families with teenagers are presented with unique challenges; the liminal space between childhood and adulthood requires regular attention to the balance of freedom and oversight. Even as teenagers naturally move towards greater independence, they still need their parents’ support, guidance and engagement. This time of life can spark big emotions for everyone involved, which can lead to increased conflict.
Step-families experience a collision of two distinct family cultures, and are presented with the challenge of establishing new norms so no one is left feeling like an outsider. Additionally, while parent and child relationships generally develop across the course of the child’s life, in step-families both children and adults find themselves thrust into those roles quite suddenly, often leading to power struggles and feelings of rejection. Finally, previous family members often continue to influence the new step-family. In short, there’s a lot going on!
In family sessions, I aim to help each person clarify their needs and and fears, and facilitate respectful communication about the heart of the matter. Family work is dynamic and often toggles back and forth between sessions with the entire family, sessions with sub-sets of family members (siblings, for instance, or a parent and child), and sometimes even solo sessions. My hope is to encourage the growth of trust and accountability amongst family members so that conflict can be navigated more peaceably.
