Family Counseling Services in DeSoto, TX.

Being a parent can be difficult and stressful. It doesn't have to be, but it does take effort to change the negative family behavior patterns. Many parents fall into the trap of punishment as a deterrent, and sometimes you may feel like all you ever do is punish your child. Let's flip that around: Instead of, "If you get into trouble at school today, you're grounded for a week" let's try, "If you don't get into trouble at school today, we can go to the park this weekend." Take it day by day. Every day is different. You can offer 30 minutes extra screen time or video game or, as a big reward, a sleepover. Let's talk about it!

My approach is grounded in recognizing and addressing the unique dynamics that exist within family systems. I work collaboratively with families to foster open communication, resolve conflicts, and strengthen the bonds between family members. Ultimately, family counseling promotes healthier relationships, improved understanding, and a more harmonious family environment, leading to long-lasting positive changes and enhanced family functioning.

Do you feel disconnected from your wife or kids? Does it feel like you’ve lost control of your home? Or have you experienced something difficult within your family that’s not been resolved? If so, I can help. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist I’m an expert in relationships, and have been trained to identify the patterns within families that aren’t working, develop healthier ones, improve communication and understanding, and help families forge a new path forward. This often looks like a combination of family sessions, parent sessions, and individual sessions. I provide online therapy over HIPAA-secure video, and if given the opportunity, would be honored to serve your family.

Families are complex! Healing family problems can feel like untangling a giant hairball. That's because in some ways, it is. Your family is a network of 1:1 relationships. We first identify key conflict areas and then work to rebuild trust between individuals. Once understanding is restored, we bring it to a family level. Whether working with children, the marriage, in-laws, or siblings, the process remains similar. We get to the root of core emotions, untangling problems inhibiting communication and keeping us in negative cycles.

We provide a safe place for you to talk about difficult issues, sort out your situation and your goals, and start to take make healthy choices to take care of yourself, your family, and your children. We provide a space to let go of some of the self doubt and anxiety and help you gain perspective and the tools needed to get your life back on track. It is important for parents to take time for themselves to get their anxiety or depression under control so that they are in a better frame of mind to be a support to their family.

If Melanie agrees its appropriate, Melanie works with families according to their clinical needs as individuals as well as the family as a whole. Structural family therapy is used to strengthen certain relationships, say, between the siblings, in order to improve family life. Melanie is very sensitive to only discussing certain problems within certain levels of the family, so you can expect people to be shuffled in and out of the therapy room depending on what's discussed.

In family therapy you will learn and practice effective communication skills allowing members to dialogue on their problems, concerns and feelings by demonstrating active listening, curiousity and interest in each others perspective. Problem solving requires a willingness on the parts of all members to contribute to the solutions. Topics discussed include; parenting techniques, establishing healthy boundaries, and family contracts to negotiate terms and come to an agreement on how the family will handle future family problems and to commit to positive change. Benefits of family therapy include more respectful communication, responsible behavior, improved relationships, and fun!

Regardless of the family structure, all families must work at building positive relationships among its members. At times, this can be a challenging task. At Christ Centered Counseling we strive to help family members to restore peace, harmony, and unity. We teach and encourage each member of the family to take responsibility for his or her behavior and to be accountable to each other for the well being of the family unit. Blended family counseling is available for families working through relational issues.

Family therapy looks at the entire family system—parents, children, extended family members—to identify strengths and problematic behaviours. I collaborate with families on strategies for utilizing their own capabilities for resolving problems, and on developing effective communication and problem-solving skills for preventing conflicts. I specialize in working with families of teenagers, which is an age that can be challenging for both the teenagers and their parents.

Let me guess. One partner feels alone and like they don't matter and the other feels they are always being criticized and can't get anything right. The more one asks for the other to show up, the more the partner disappears physically and emotionally. You both bicker and fight and the idea of sitting and just hanging out seems elusive, if not impossible. Something like this? Often we crave connection but are blocked by the pain and the history that gets in the way. Small fights about little things become battles that highlight our struggle to have our basic relational needs met. I can help you get under the bickering to the parts crying out for connection- to an enriching relationship.

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 dysregulated (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 dystunction. Kevin@kevinflemingphd.com or 877-606-6161

I believe that the family structure is critical to each individuals overall mental well being. Often times, there are multiple lives, that intersect in families and that can lead to arguments, struggle and strife. Whether you are in a family of 2 or a family of 6 sometimes we all need a little help understanding each other. I am here to help support you and your family in navigating the complications that come with all of those personalities living under one roof!

Let’s be honest—parents don’t have all the answers, although they wish they did. But they always have a lot of heart and a lot of love for their children. When raising children becomes challenging—or even overwhelming—know that you are not alone. Sometimes parents need help with their children, adolescents, and teens. Every parent has questions about how to improve their parenting, deal with difficult situations, and strengthen family life. Our professional family counselors can give you the guidance you are looking for…and we will also be sure to remind you that if you are filled with a lot of love for your children then you really are a great parent already!

Home is where the heart is right? Right. That's why relationships in the home can be so difficult. Matters of the heart can be very hard to work with on your own. I offer an objective third party view of what the underlying problems are and offer solutions! I can help your family communicate better, and bring healing to wounded hearts. What is more important than your family? Call me today and let's get on the path to healing and peace at home.

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.

In family therapy, I will help you and your family better understand the roles that you live with and the conflicts that arise as a result of these roles. We will work through communication problems and create plans to help you and your family overcome these communication problems and establish more positive lines of communication with each other. Call me or e-mail me today to set up a consultation to see how I may be able to help you with your family problems.