Family Counseling Services in Manhattan, NY.

Originally trained as a family therapist at the Family Institute of Cambridge, Mass., I have evolved as an experienced family therapist. I believe that family therapy is generally the treatment of choice in resolving issues and preventing the problem from going to the next generation. It is useful to see an entire family but can also be beneficial if parts of a family will work together to overcome communication problems, resentments, and misunderstandings that can tear families apart. Family therapy is very helpful to resolving conflicts of adult children after a parent has died. It can also be useful with young children, siblings, as well as teenagers, middle-aged people and older adults.

Are members of your family having a tough time getting along? Perhaps your family needs some help ironing out communication problems. Or perhaps conflict is causing tremendous strain or tearing the family apart. Family therapy can help teach you & your family important skills to help deepen your connections, resolve disagreements and get through stressful times. Helpful for families that are traditional, blended or LGBTQ or for sub-sets in families like fathers & daughters, mothers and sons, adult siblings or in-laws.

A main goal of family therapy is to develop healthy boundaries, communication and empathy within the family. Reducing conflict within the family and developing problem-solving skills is also common. I believe that an important aspect of family therapy is to treat the family as a whole unit. It is important for the family to explore the dynamics and functioning of their family of origin. Family therapy looks at the problem as a whole, and not at any individual’s role within the problem. It is important that each individual within the family unit gets their turn and that people aren’t speaking over each other or placing blame on each other.

Family therapy is crucial to develop positive systemic change in family systems. By targeting the familial relationships, I believe that change will occur positively to adjust dysfunction and possible generational trauma symptoms. By engaging in family therapy, a family is choosing to make positive changes and grow together. I am a large advocate of families receiving therapy, in addition to individual counseling. In family therapy, it is important for the therapist to take an active role in the session to allow for equality and giving a voice to those who may be less vocal. The therapist allows a safe space for everyone to feel comfortable and known among each other.

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 help family members work together to reconnect, strengthen existing resources and find solutions to tough problems. Family therapy can be useful in family situations that result in stress, grief, anger or conflict. Issues that may bring a family to therapy could include: a problem a child is having in school, mental, behavioral, or physical illness of a family member, loss of a family member, or dissatisfaction or dissolution in a marriage At Transformation Counseling we focus on aiding families in developing more effective, less stressful patterns of living. If you and your family are ready to take that step please contact us.