Family Counseling Services in Lake Forest, CA.

All families develop their own unique 'dance' that is hard to discern when you are a participant. The dance steps started in our own family of origin and get recreated in our current families. Often there is an 'identified patient' that acts out what isn't processed within the family system. By entering the family system as a professional attuned to what healthy dynamics look like, I can help transform a limping, depleting family system into one that has vitality and encourages each family member to thrive and grow.

I work within a family framework, but I do not treat families as part of traditional "family therapy." This means that if you are a parent and you struggle with your child's behavior, I can help you learn techniques to manage the behavior better. I have extensive experience working with parents of children with autism and other mental health disorders that can make parenting extremely challenging. There is no shame in asking for support. I can help with creating a parenting plan, I can help with co-parenting after divorce, and I can help parents who care for their own aging relatives. We truly live in the "sandwich generation" where family can grow far.

Family relationships can be stressful and challenging. There may be anger, arguments, grief & loss, mental or physical illness, unresolved trauma, abuse, neglect, betrayal, financial or occupational challenges that create distress in the family system. Healthy family members have open, honest and compassionate communication. They hear, know and understand each other. They take responsibility and are accountable for their impact on each other. They show love and care through affection, attention, appreciation, being of service, spending quality time with and being there for each other. I guide you in developing the skills, qualities and habits needed to get your family to a better place!

ith a deep understanding of familial relationships and dynamics, I create a safe and inclusive space where every member feels heard and validated. By facilitating open communication and fostering empathy, I assist families in resolving conflicts, strengthening bonds, and building healthier relationships. Through evidence-based interventions tailored to the family's specific needs, such as systemic therapy and solution-focused techniques, clients can expect to experience improved understanding, enhanced connection, and greater harmony within the family system. My aim is to empower families to navigate challenges together, fostering resilience and promoting long-term well-being for all members

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.

Families can benefit from therapy when they experience any stressful event that may strain family relationships, such as financial hardship, divorce, or the death of a loved one. In addition, it can be effective in treating mental health concerns that impact the family as a whole, such as depression, substance abuse, chronic illness, and food issues, or everyday concerns, like communication problems, interpersonal conflict, or behavioral problems in children and adolescents. Family counseling aims to promote understanding and collaboration among family members in order to solve the problems of one or more individuals.

Who doesn’t sometimes experience family problems? Family therapy effectively addresses issues that arise as a family grows and changes. Whether it’s balancing work and school demands, finding quality time, solving problems, setting boundaries, or blending a family, I help families develop the tools and techniques that will create a positive and healthy home environment. I help families handle challenges great and small, with humor, insight, and caring. With adult children and having been married for more than thirty years, I bring both professional and personal experience, which creates a unique caring environment. I can be contacted at 949.370.4726 or at info@southoccounseling.com.

Imagine a family as a tree with branches, roots, trunk representing parts of the immediate and extended family. When working with families, all elements are considered. Usually there is a request for family therapy due to one of it's members in crisis, often a child. However, when an analysis of need is done it becomes apparent that more than one member of the family needs help in adjusting, growing and learning new behaviours. Clients contact me for a variety of reasons: to improve communications, solve family problems, support in special situations such as death, divorce, marriage, illness, child or adolescent issues.