Family Counseling Services in Los Alamitos, CA.

I specialize in supporting the healthy growth and development of family relationships. Family therapy provides a secure and nurturing environment for these relationships to blossom. The bond between parent and child is of crucial importance for the secure development of children and their future relationships. The ultimate goal is to help families to create healthy bonds that bring joy to their life and relationships. I have experience working with families with children of all ages from infancy to young adulthood.

As a Family Therapist, I specialize in facilitating conversations where all voices can be heard and new understanding can be reached. Psychotherapy offers many opportunities for dialogue. My approach opens space for different experiences, perspectives and possibilities for the future. It is a chance to heal past hurts, deepen relationships and move forward with increased sharing and connection.

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.

Parent-child conflicts, sibling rivalry that has gotten out of hand, issues arising from divorce or parental conflict all these issues need to be discussed and have a supported and open conversation with your family members. I will work together with the family in order to identify areas of dysfunction and to help the family move through the difficult times that a family faces.

No two families were created alike. Therefore, therapy has to be customized to suit the particular dynamics of each family. Assembly-line approaches won't work. Healthy communication and individual growth within each family member as well as the entire family system are some important goals in family therapy. One family systems approach I Integrate in my counseling is that of Carl Whitaker's. This involves "authentically 'being' with the family and their anxieties rather than aloofly applying predetermined techniques." Individuation is a priority-- each member is allowed his/her own perceptions and treatment as an individual.

Do you find yourself overwhelmed and frustrated with your daily family routines? Do conversations often lead to arguments and hurt feelings? Would you like a more enjoyable fun-loving family relationship? If so, I can help. I provide support with managing daily challenges & helping you reach family goals. I believe in a systemic approach, so sessions can include you, your child, your spouse or any combination of family members. During sessions we can address specific issues like: staying calm during disagreements or tantrums, establishing routines, decreasing arguments & improving communication. We can also work on broader goals like bringing more fun & cohesiveness to your family unit.

Family therapy can be very effective in resolving problems occurring in a home between parents and children, between siblings, or between separated parents. This form of therapy includes all members of the system who affect one another. Some common reasons families seek out family therapy is to resolve trauma, strengthen bonds between family members, and improve communication.

Raising our children is one of the most important things that we will ever do in life. How they turn out, how life goes for them, whether they experience joy and happiness because of their inner strength and resources, or struggle with life because of inadequate coping skills is largely in our hands. Many adults have had hundreds, if not thousands of hours of training for their profession, yet when we become parents there is virtually no training available for what most people agree is one of the most important jobs on the planet: being a parent.

Sometimes we feel as though the people that love us most don't listen to us or understand us. Family therapy is a way to be heard and ultimately understood. The approach that I take is to ensure that all members are being respectful of one another and not only listening to the other person but truly hearing them. The benefits of working together as a family is better communication, stronger feelings of closeness, and increased respect and support between loved ones.

Each person in a family has a voice and each person in a family has an impact. I am careful to make certain that the family looks at all the members and how they all interact as a family unit. It is important that each member is respected. We look at how the family is not in a state of health due to choices that the family is making. We work together toward connection, understanding, and growth for all memebers. Unhealthy alliances and interactions are acknowledged.

Is your family life chaos? Are your kids running things? Are you going through a divorce and don't know how to tell the kids? Dr. Eris Huemer has worked with familes and children as a counselor and coach as well as being a Supervisor for Behavior Interventionists and Floortime Therapists for children and adolescents with behavior disorders such as Autism, Learning Delayed, ADHD, Mental Retardation and more. There are very few family dynamics and problems that Eris hasn't helped a family solve. Dr. Eris works to help the family identify its strengths and to reach a concrete solution in a brief period of time.

Family Therapy is often the most beneficial when there is a family conflict or crises. Examples of family conflict are a recent divorce or separation, sibling rivalry, arguments over a living trust or will and discussing end-of-life issues. One of the most difficult situations for families to adjust to is blending families. If you have been married before and going into a second marriage with your own children, it brings a whole new set of problems . Examples of a family crises is death of a loved one, a family member of loved one getting a serious illness, or a family member going through a trauma like physical or sexual abuse, being severely bullied, victim of a crime or the like.

I believe that families have written and unwritten rules that allow that family to function. And sometimes, there is a breakdown in how the family functions whether from a death in the family, a move, a member of the family not wanting to do her/his "job" or any other number of things. Meeting as a family can allow everyone to have a chance to speak and avoid some of the he said/she said that goes around. If you believe you and your family could benefit from some assistance and guidance, please call me at 714-432-9856.