Why Family Therapy

If We Do Family Therapy, Does This Mean It Is Entirely The Parents' Fault?

Of course not! People have gotten so used to blaming all of their problems on their parents that now they assume all their children's bad behaviors are their fault as well. I do not believe this to be the case. As human beings some of us just struggle a little more in this life than do others. This may tie into our relationship with our parents, but ultimately we are responsible for our own life choices and behaviors. Besides, Family Therapy should never be about fault, but about how we relate to one another as significant members of a support network. It is possible that you as parents need some help knowing how to fully relate to your child in a way that can benefit both of you, but this is very different than being at fault.

Here are some major benefits that can come from working therapeutically with your child as a family:

1) Rebuilding Relationships that have somehow gotten lost with the passing of time. Therapy together as a family allows for everyone to understand each other and see each other's point-of-view. This is the first step in reconnecting as a family and is key to making sure that all family members feel appreciated.

2) Mutual Respect is an important goal in family therapy. Before we can talk about love, we often have to talk about respect. To know someone so well that we are privy to all of their flaws and still respect and love them is often times a heavenly task. This is paramount in terms of working with families.

3) Family Culture can be established and upheld. It is vital to lay out a Family Mission statement. This makes sure that everyone is moving in the right directions as a unit versus assuming that all members of the family are on the same page. Do all the members of your family operate from the same guidelines?

4) Identify Family Rules and make sure that everyone knows exactly what they are. Often the rules that are being followed were never actually spoken, and are contrary to the established rules. This happens gradually over time and forms due to the collective family unconscious that exists in every household.

5) Create A Calmer Living Situation : Most often one can measure the dysfunction of a family as a direct correlation to the amount of drama that plays out on a daily basis. The more families can create solid relationships with each other then the more peaceful the daily interactions tend to be as well.

6) Family as the Source : Family can be the one place on this Earth where we have our most sacred relationships. Learn how to “do” family in a whole new way and learn how to create the supportive system we all so desperately need. Thus, Family Therapy is the best option for struggling adolescents.

Find out ways to reconnect and rebuild your family.
Contact Drake Counseling Services for a free consultation.