Family Counseling Services in Belton, MO.

Families go through periods of time in which they need help. Do you feel that your family is struggling and you feel lost in how to help? I am a Family Therapist and have a unique talent of helping families find new ways to connect in meaningful ways. If your family is experiencing troubled times don't wait for it to get worse. I will help you find a way to navigate through these difficult times and learn ways of communicating so that each person feels valued, loved and accepted. I work from a systems perspective and can help you identify strengths of your family system and more importantly find ways of reconnecting in a meaningful way.

Each family is unique and comes with its own issues that directly impact them. I find it an honor and rewarding to work with the entire family system. When you can work on improving the way the whole family interacts and change the relational dynamics, everyone benefits. Each person is a valued member of the family and plays an important role. The family would not be complete without everyone. Family therapy allows understanding and healing for everyone.

Family problems are best dealt with by not starting with behavior but starting with what's going on in the inside of people and what unspoken motives and needs are going unseen. I work from a warm, empathic standpoint in which I try to enter your shoes and understand your experiences as you do, not as others do. Insight is not the main goal (although that certainly happens), rather formative moments of feeling tuned into, deeply understood and emotionally held are the goal. These offer new emotional experiences that really catalyze psychological growth and healing. Benefits include increased: feelings of vitality and realness, hope, self-esteem, emotion regulation, etc.

When working with families in therapy, I utilize a family systems approach which addresses each member of the family. The family system has its own structure and patterns of communication, which may be defined by parenting style, personalities, and other influences. My therapy techniques will focus on improving communication skills, addressing conflict management, and working towards a goal of offering solutions to nurture change and development and making the family unit stronger. I utilize therapeutic techniques to address issues such as; marital problems, parent-child conflicts, problems between siblings and the effects of illness on the family.

Though individual therapy is an essential piece in mental health recovery, the addition of family therapy can further the recovery process. Very few of us live as isolated life, remaining unconnected to others--no family, friends, or coworkers. Therefore, helping an individual communicate with their family, and helping the family to not only understand but learn how to help their loved one--can be an important part of the recovery process. Whether it be trauma, addiction, or mental illness such as Bipolar, Depression, or Anxiety, family therapy can help build a healthy support network. We all need supportive people in our lives. Family therapy can help.

Family means so much to God, so it should mean so much to us. Consequently, family dynamics can be quite challenging to work through when issues arise. The struggles that come from families of origin can stifle growth in a marriage and cause a lot of friction in raising children. Not to mention, having children can introduce many new dynamics that consist of anything from their behavior issues to significant emotional distress and social challenges. I can help you navigate through these challenges effectively either with your children individually or within the context of family therapy.

Usually a collborative, solution center approach, this client works with many types of familys. Blended families, alternative families, and groups who live together but have trouble doing so. Using practical, small, self identified goals, clinician starts with techniques that encourage healthy talking and listening Clinician draws upon family systems concepts, cognitive behavioral strategies, and preparing self for change resources.

As a Family Therapist, involving the whole family is important to looking and understanding the dynamics of your unit. There will be times when all are invited for a session, with rules that hopefully promote honest discussion, non-judgmental listening, open communication and problem solving. Depending on the problems presented, there may be times when each member will have their own session such as the parental system will have their own session/s and then the sibling system will have theirs. Grandparents may be invited for a session, as well, especially if they play an ongoing supportive role in the family life.