Family therapy services in 92503: Riverside, CA. Relationship and couples counseling.

Each person in a family has a voice and each person in a family has an impact. I am careful to make certain that the family looks at all the members and how they all interact as a family unit. It is important that each member is respected. We look at how the family is not in a state of health due to choices that the family is making. We work together toward connection, understanding, and growth for all memebers. Unhealthy alliances and interactions are acknowledged.

Therapy focuses on the patterns of interaction between family members, and emphasizes improved communication and connection as an important factor to create change. Involving various family members in treatment helps to benefit so that everyone has a similar understanding of the issues within the relationships, and expectations of others. The most important factor within those connections is personal accountability so that each member is taking responsibility for any actions they cause to the system, versus being focused on how other members may have hurt them.

Families are the places where we should find the love and support to face the world and all its challenges. However, sometimes families loose their way due to poor communication and misunderstandings , anger, acting out behaviors, hurt feelings and lack of knowledge. Maya Angelou has said: "People do what they know; when they know better, they do better." My plan for families is to help them know better so they can do better. Where there is loving-kindness and a will to make change the future seems brighter.

Often times we don't realize the impact our birth families have on how we function on a day to day basis and the difficulties we face. Take this opportunity to explore the dynamics of your childhood, learn how your relationships with immediate and extended family members has impacted your approach to current relationships, work, changes in life and potential stressors.

Addiction recovery is not a solo journey. Individuals closest to us often take on roles to adapt to our behaviors. It can be difficult to accept that everyone's role must adapt and evolve, not just the addict, in order for recovery to work. When an individual is walking the path from addiction to recovery, spouses and family are also experiencing a complicated transformation. Family counseling can help ease this transformation in a healthy, positive, productive way for all involved.

It's an often avoided topic, but the truth is that addiction is a family disease. By that I mean it effects the whole family on a deeper level than one might first assume. Behaviors, coping skills, financial decisions, and much more - they're all altered based on the presence of addiction in the family. I work with family compositions and intimate relationships of all types to foster understanding, healing and growth for everyone involved. Without the family or significant other participating, recovery for the addict becomes much more difficult and thus unlikely. Including your loved one in your treatment may terrify you, and it's ok if it does. When you're ready, we can start at your pace.