Family Counseling Services in West Hollywood, CA.

Problematic behaviors in a child or teen are usually rooted in some disturbance of the emotional connections within the family. I can help your family reconnect with each other using an approach called Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT). EFFT rebuilds connections by helping you to understand and change the repetitive and self-reinforcing negative interactions that create distance and conflict within your family. People are empowered when they feel a secure sense of being loved. They naturally become stronger, more resilient, and more autonomous – not weak or needy. Once your child or teen feels securely connected, he or she will have a foundation on which to build positive behaviors.

Every family experiences some type of challenge in their relationship together. Let’s face it, no matter how educated or understanding we are, sometimes there is just too much going on and too many personalities involved to see things clearly and to resolve the problem on our own. My personal background includes a long-term marriage and raising four children. This experience enhances my understanding of the types of situations and feelings your family may be experiencing. In a supportive and non-judgmental environment, I will collaborate with you and your family as we explore the underlying thoughts, feelings, and relational dynamics which are interfering with healthy functioning.

I specialize in working with families through a process of designing the family you've always wanted. When each family member is given the opportunity to describe what they need or like that helps them feel valued in family it becomes the beginning of lasting change. I help families design their system in such a way that produces happiness. I will take your family through a 6 step process of design which gives shape to the kind of family you would like to be in.

Family therapists are uniquely trained. We view the health of the family as the goal, no matter who shows up for therapy. For example, if a couple comes for therapy because they’re fighting a lot, I will ask “Where are the kids when you’re fighting? Do you know how it’s is affecting each of them?” The idea is that everyone in a family is deeply affected by actions, beliefs, and interactions they witness between family members.

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.

If you are at your wits end trying to balance the confusing and demanding needs of one or all family members you may benefit from my ability to help you sort it all out. With me you will find someone capable to help listen compassionately to all and give you and your family the relief of having an experienced coach. I can help improve communication and prescribe learning experiences that give you confidence in better problem solving.

Many of our struggles are not just individually focused; they are shaped by and affect the family system around us. I have a passion for helping family relationships heal in places where they are broken, and thrive in places that are stagnant. I especially love journeying with parents and their children, strengthening bonds and decreasing family conflict. My training has predominantly been in family psychology, and I love to watch families transform together -- as individuals and as whole units.

What future do you want for your family? Stressors can affect families in many ways. Family therapy provides the opportunity to change your family’s relationship to its problems and the effects those problems have on each person in your family. Families come to therapy for a variety of reasons: single parenthood; underperformance at school; birth of a new sibling; unemployment; relocation; substance abuse; mental illness; divorce; blending families; grief and loss. If your family is experiencing difficulty, family therapy is a way to increase communication and understanding, while discovering sources of strength and support within your family.

"I love my family enough to bring them here. As a family, we need help." Many of my clients are families who need support and guidance to help them through a difficult season in their family life. Frequent conflicts, feeling distant, and wanting to talk openly and honestly within the security and privacy of my therapy office are typical reasons families come to me for Family Therapy. As a Family-Systems Therapist, I help families explore how their relationships can be transformed through openness to a new way of communicating and relating to one another. If your family could benefit from support and guidance, call me today at (626) 272-4908. I look forward to connecting with you.

In working with families, we will collaborate on addressing the couple's need to be in charge. Family rules and boundaries are sometimes unclear to children. We will work together to communicate your expectations. When acting out, underachievement, conduct problems, defiant or oppositional behaviors present in the children, the the parents need to be on the same page. Your family will learn, insession, preferred communicatin styles; empathic listening, group problem solving skills, tolerance, respect and acceptance of each other. Family members will learn to interact without anger, resentment, sarcasm or disrespect. Parents need to be authoritative without being authoritarian.

Every family has some sort of dysfunction since individuals are not perfect. I have worked for over ten years with youth and their families. I believe family therapy is essential when working with youth since children and adolescents have limited insight and need structure, guidance, and discipline from parents/caregivers. I begin the initial session meeting with the parents/caregivers to identify and discuss problems and confidentiality. I then meet with the youth/children with the parents to work on agreed treatment goals. The ultimate goal of family therapy is to increase open and respectful communication and improve parent/child relationships.

A healthy family is much like owning and maintaining a car. That is, if something is wrong with the car, the car won't run properly. Same goes for families. If one person is having difficulties then it affects the entire family. Family therapy helps everyone in the family work better together by addressing all the problems that are getting in the way.

Although most therapists in California have a license in Marriage and Family Counseling, most of those therapists don’t actually do family counseling. Because we have over 25 therapists at the La Vie Counseling Center we have a wide range of specialties, and one of them is family counseling. We have therapists who are equipped to work with your entire family to open lines of communication, set better boundaries and restructure relationships that have needed change for years. If your family needs help, give us a call and one of our family therapists will start the process of change that is long overdue.