Family Counseling Services in South Barrington, IL.

Family therapy focuses on improving communication and interaction in family system. This counseling commonly involves, but is not limited to, identifying parental dynamics that effect children, or vice versa. Sessions can include the family as a whole, or focus on individual therapy for the child/adolescent. The core goal of family counseling is to improve the psychological health of the whole family. Families can benefit from counseling when dealing with issues such as sibling conflict, addiction, illness, depression, financial stress and many more.

I'm a family man myself in a long term marriage where we raised two sons and now we're grandparents. I've " been there, done that" on so many family issues where respectfully resolving differences and conflict is needed for family growth. As a professional family therapist I enjoy helping families grow to enjoy themselves more fully. My approach is open, conversational, andgoal oriented. I work with families of older teens, young adults, families dealing with elder issues and with family businesses. I also see young families where the couple, the parents, need to find a new life pattern incorporating raising young children and while still enjoying their life as friends and lovers.

Have you ever noticed how one person's problem in the family affects everyone? This is true in all families, even the Brady Bunch! One of the reasons this occurs is because our reactions to each other often serve to "keep the problem, the problem". Working together as a family in counseling gets people off the blame-game and on to ways of relating that bring the respect back. As a specialist in family systems counseling and clinical author in professional literature I enjoy working with families of all ages in a variety of interactive/experiential methods to help family members learn how to communicate and connect. The end result is increased harmony and productivity.

All families face serious challenges over a life time. Are you facing stressors that are affecting the entire family? Are you having trouble coming together to resolve issues that you and your family are facing? Your family can begin to learn how to mediate stress and begin to understand how a stressful situation can affect each family member. Together, we can learn ways that your family can use to get through a crisis. How a family manages a difficult experience, handles stress, reorganizes, and moves forward with life can influence current and long-term adjustment for family members and is important for the survival and well-being of the family unit.

Does it seem like your family is just off? or maybe like one person is to blame? Sometimes, the adults think that a child is root cause of an issue, but many times they may be the symptom to a bigger family issue. Many times I work with kids whose behaviors have escalated, and parents are looking for support. I then walk alongside them and the child to help identify the symptoms, the underlying issues as a family, and work towards living a more fulfilling life. Most times youth learn new ways to cope, as well as parents learning to decipher the codes that kids are trying to tell us. Call me for a free phone consultation and I'll help you assess if family therapy is right for you!

Family life can be very difficult because of the number of personalities at work in one home. Acceptance is one of the many important keys to living in an open and safe home. Learning what roles are in play in the home and adopting new styles of interaction is also important. Power struggles tend to be one of the pitfalls to families who want to live in harmony. Learning to better communicate with openness and calmness allows for problem solving to take place.

In family therapy I treat the dynamic of the relationship between family members. We all have a deep need to belong and feel accepted by others. This starts in our family of origin. If things are preventing us from feeling accepted by our families we seek other places to feel that connection. By helping each person feel heard, understood and accepted by their family members we can create significant change.

My goal in working with couples and families is to restore hope and a love to battered relationships. I believe in using a mix of practical assessment skills, creativity and humor with a genuine commitment to marriage and families. In addition, I lovingly challenge individuals to look at themselves and identify what is holding them back from fully loving each other. I offer dynamic and powerful trainings and assessments that will propel families and couples forward more quickly. My heart is to help couples and parents once again experience grace to see their loved ones the way God does.

Family therapy needs to be engaging for it to be helpful. It can be daunting, with some family members not feeling safe enough to say what they truly feel. Each family member deserves to be understood, and to be a part of something special. The family therapist needs to connect with each member of the family. Encouraging humor, creativity, and stretching comfort levels are all part of the process.

We will help you adjust to family conflict and cope to help solve and bringing together family members and understanding each other to work through difficult feelings in various circumstances. Resolving the conflicts between family members can ease tensions and bring families peace. If you are unable to resolve family issues, please don't hesitate to ask for external help.

In family therapy, I create a supportive space where each member feels heard and valued, helping families navigate complex dynamics with care and clarity. I have experience working with families facing challenges related to addiction, identity, and communication—especially when supporting trans youth. We’ll work together to strengthen understanding, rebuild trust, and create a more affirming and stable environment. My goal is to help families move forward with empathy, connection, and practical tools for lasting change.

Family therapy is incredibly helpful for families experiencing stress, discord, arguments, grief and loss, as well as other life transitions. I provide family sessions for families who wish to process certain experiences, learn about patterns, and support one another through a difficult time. I allow each family member become understood as an individual as well as their role within the family dynamic/system, while we collaborate in finding effective solutions.

Kari Hunter is a licensed family therapist with over 25 years of experience. Whether your family has young children, teens, or adult children, Kari has worked with all types of problems. Families can benefit from family therapy when there is school performance problems, sibling rivalry, divorce or re-marriage transitions, or parenting differences. In many cases, insurance covers family therapy.