Family therapy services in 18851: Warren Center, PA. Relationship and couples counseling.

Family therapy looks at the entire family system—parents, children, extended family members—to identify strengths and problematic behaviours. I collaborate with families on strategies for utilizing their own capabilities for resolving problems, and on developing effective communication and problem-solving skills for preventing conflicts. I specialize in working with families of teenagers, which is an age that can be challenging for both the teenagers and their parents.

I utilize a structural, experiential, and emotionally-focused approach to family therapy, supporting family members in improving communication, building trust, healing from past conflict, and cultivating greater openness in their relationships. I aim to connect with each member of a family system, holding space for each individual's unique perspective while supporting your shared goals as a family.

We feel that the parents/guardians are in the best position to support their children. As a result, we encourage our parents to participate in their children’s therapy. We meet with both the child(ren) and parents separately to understand their perspectives prior to engaging in family therapy. In this way, we can assess the strengths and needs of each participant to support effective communication and treatment.

The family therapy I do is in situations when a child or teen is acting out. A child or teen might be defiant, or aggressive, or failing in school, or in trouble with the law or abusing substances or lying excessively or acting promiscuously, or some combination of these and other negative behaviors. The family therapy I do is preceded by a thorough and state-of-the art evaluation of both the youth and the youth's system. I then set measurable goals with a family and follow it up with behaviorally oriented family therapy. In this approach, there are specific and structured strategies brought to bear and home, and often and school, to enhance a child or teen's odds of being highly successful.