Family Counseling Services in Studio City, CA.

In many ways, I practice Family Therapy every day-even though I usually see only couples and individuals! The reason for this is because we all come from a family system, and our role and place in that system are revealed in every we relationship we have. The early attachment experiences we had as young ones set the stage for our intimate relationships later in life. It can be an illuminating experience to examine and understand the family system dynamics that you-and/or your spouse came from, thereby better understanding the context from which we came.

I love working with families and especially Parents. The parents are the models for their children. I teach what is abuse and Find that many don't really know what abuse is? Screaming and yelling, telling another adult how to be think or feel, lying, cheating, encroaching on anothers boundaries, i.e., touching another person without permission, getting into another persons personal possessions without their permission. e are our childrens models. We all want to have mentally strong children which helps our whole society. I can write parenting plans and mediate disputes in families and even in businesses. Learning about strong boundaries is a necessary learning experience for everyone.

I take a "systems" approach to Family Therapy, which means that each member of the family contributes to the overall dynamics and issues within the family. As a graduate school Professor for over ten years, I have taught the theories of marriage and family therapy for over ten years and facilitated the couples training program at a Community Mental Health Center as well. Often, Family Therapy will turn into Couples Therapy in my experience, which comprises about half of my counseling practice in Los Angeles.

In family therapy, I aim to reduce distress and conflict by improving the systems of interactions between family members. Sometimes all family members are present, but that is not always possible or necessary. By adjusting the viewpoint of problems as patterns of behaviors that need adjusting, and improving communication skills, families can strengthen and resolve conflict in a more peaceful way.

I routinely work with families in my practice. There are any number of reasons that families seek counseling. Quite frequently, the reasons revolve around children and parenting. Sometimes there are issues between child or adult siblings. Unresolved conflicts from childhood. Arguments ensue over the family business. Caring for a special needs child, or an aging parent. At other times, family members have experienced a loss in the family or there are struggles with blending families in second marriages. These struggles also bring with them opportunities to create openings that may not have existed before. Counseling can be very useful in healing old wounds and settling disputes.

Family therapy is a unique opportunity to be in the room with a very important system that holds power in people's lives. Often, problems loom over family units, making the unique values, gifts, and strengths of that unit recede into the background. Having family members all together can be a chance to create space for voices to be heard and revisit the importance that each person plays in the lives of the family.

All family systems have rules and unspoken rules that help regulate and assist families to cope with stress. I like to teach clients the failure of a family or parent and then challenge them to let go of these family rules and to find new rules and boundaries to help them now live. As a result, family therapy is used to help reduce stress and increase acceptace and support.

Families that I work with benefit from a family systems approach to family therapy that enables family members to view family dynamics in light of multigenerational processes, the stages of the family life cycle, emotional triangles, emotional cutoff, and societal pressures that influence family function. Armed with a new depth of understanding family members become empowered to employ new, more effective and loving ways of communication and understanding.

Emotional problems play out in families. They often start there. If this is the case: no matter how much individual therapy a person gets, things don't really seem to get better. Sometimes the whole family needs to be involved in the therapeutic process. Call me for a consultation to find the best course of action for you and your family. We can get to the root of the issues to help you start a whole new relationship with your family.

Most family therapists inadvertently create more chaos through their well-intentioned efforts to assist a family move through a change process. Why? Brains are inherently deregulated (all of us, may I add) and most talking and dialoguing misses brain-centric problems that need more intensive help. Many times the emotional trauma created by years of solving problems ineffectively can wreak havoc on the brain's parasympathetic nervous system, not ever giving the family a break from flight or fight thinking. Contact us for an innovative neuroscience solution to family dysfunction. Kevin@kevinflemingphd.com or 877-606-6161.

We are a married couple in a blended family who understands the range of dynamics and challenges a family can face. We can help you deal with differences of opinions on finances, housing, children and in-laws. We understand the complexities of raising children and step-parenting. Are you having difficulty with boundaries, rules and discipline? Is one of you feeling like an outsider in your own family? We work on creating new roles and understanding baggage from families of origin. We encourage exploring fears around the lost fantasy of what a family "should" be. We can help you find new ways to form secure alliances and open communication.

Family therapy is about communication and safety in the family system. Balanced family leadership requires the ability to be firm, and friendly, and to set developmentally appropriate limits while remaining fair, flexible, and encouraging. In balanced families, individuality and connection to the family are both significant. Family processes can be cooperative, consistent, and caring. My humanistic approach is in presenting with “realness” and joining the family in their discussions to understand the issues at hand. My goal is towards unmasking issues and creating new meanings for the family. Often the spontaneous reactions to the present situation in the therapy room create the client’s awareness of their inner potentials and opens the channels of...(view profile to read more)

I take a systemic approach in dealing with familial work. I am trained in Family Systems Theory and work with the family unit to identify goals and establish objectives at the outset of therapy. By examining family dynamics, together we can work to create change by establishing clear boundaries and improving communication skills. Often, I incorporate both a Humanistic and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques in work with families as well.