Family Counseling Services in Elk River, MN.

Families are complex. They are filled with different opinions, different habits, different values, and different thoughts about the future. They can also be filled with great joy, laughter, happiness, excitement, and teamwork. If your family isn't functioning the way you envisioned it or if you are experiencing a separation or divorce in your family I can help you navigate that change. I can also help you grow your family toward the connected and cohesive unit you've always known it could be, but never knew how to get it there.

As a MFT, family therapy entails looking at the family as a unit or "system", and identifying how the members' interactions affect the whole family. This approach takes pressure off the identified problem and invites families to work together for the benefit of everyone. Family therapy can benefit families going through significant changes/challenges such as divorce, loss, illness, conflicts, blended families,adoption, natural disasters and many more. Many families are greatly strengthened and have experience a sense of togetherness by working toward the goal of famly unity and peace. There are specific skills used in family therapy resulting in an effective and powerful experience.

As a marriage and family therapist I enjoy working with couples, families, and blended families. Sometimes couples need help to work through issues such as infidelity, infertility, parenting issues, sexual issues, defensiveness, in-law problems, step-parent or ex-spouse issues just to name a few. I appreciate the effectiveness of emotionally focused couples therapy. This approach promotes compassion and emotional intimacy for couples. I also utilize the Prepare/Enrich Inventory, which helps couples identify their strengths and areas of growth. Then we process though the results of you inventory. Whether you are engaged or are looking to improve your marriage couple counseling can help.

Family therapy is needed when the family isn't working well. Maybe there are a lot of fights between parents and children or maybe one of the family members is using drugs or alcohol. Family therapy is a place where the whole family can talk about what is bothering them. Sometimes people want more closeness and sometimes family members want more distance. Family therapy is a great way to identify and sort out these issues.

Does your adolescent feel out of control? Do you want to improve parenting skills or learn how to better support your kids? Is it hard to share parenting responsibilities? Families come to family therapy for many different reasons—conflict in the home, communication difficulties, divorce, grief, blended/step-parent families, teens acting out, adoptive family concerns, co-parenting challenges, mental health problems for any family members, and health problems or terminal illness. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I will help your family change stuck patterns of interaction, navigate family stressors, and support members that are struggling with mental health problems.

Often we have family members that find themselves routinely arguing about the same things and are simply not able to find resolution on certain topics. Our family therapists are able to help facilitate conversations and assist family members in being heard, validated, and get the resolution they are looking for. Most families love each other and want to work together effectively. We can help you get there.

In family therapy, you will learn how to communicate so that others will listen and how to listen so that others will talk. I will be very involved in the session - stopping family members when they are being mean or rude and encouraging when someone's opinion or feelings have not been heard. There are no taboo subjects and everyone in the room will be respected.