Families are the basic building blocks of our society. Each family has its own unique patterns of communication and social structures. These patterns are the result of factors such as the parents’ experiences, beliefs and values, the personalities of the individual family members, and the influence of the extended family (grandparents, aunts, and uncles). While many families may appear similar from the outside, every family develops its own unique personality, one which influences and shapes all of its members – often in ways we may not even realize.
Children and Adolescents often benefit from family therapy, as a component of an individual treatment plan. In general, anyone who wants to improve strained family relationships can benefit from family therapy. Family therapy can address specific issues, such as marital and financial stress, conflict between parents and children, as well as the effects that some conditions, like substance abuse and depression, have on the entire family.
A family therapist:
- Teaches family members about how families function, and in particular, how their own family dynamics interoperate.
- Helps family members learn to respond to each other’s emotional needs.
- Helps family members to respect individual differences, while taking responsibility for their self.
- Helps family members understand and appreciate how an illness is affecting the family as a whole.
- Assists in identifying conflicts and anxieties and helps the family develop strategies to resolve them.
- Strengthens all family members so they can work on their problems together.
- Teaches different methods to handle conflict and changes within the family.
- Recognizes that a change in one member of the family affects both the family structure and each member individually.
Family Therapy can help with a variety of stressful situations including:
- Relationship conflict
- Mental health issues
- Sibling rivalry
- Blended family
- Divorcing families
- Parent & child conflict
- Health crises
- Grief and loss
- Adult children intervening with aging parents
- Extended family problems
- Substance abuse
Sometimes families struggle. In fact, every family probably has its moments of difficulty. However, there are many benefits to doing what we can to keep our families connected and strong, even when we are facing challenges.
Being part of a family has an enormous impact on our health and happiness. Did you know (15 facts about families)…
Women who gave birth to children were four times less likely to die early from cancer, accidents or circulatory disease. Fathers also had lower risks of early death from these causes.
Having social ties impacts our longevity to the same degree as seen between people who smoke and don’t smoke.
Having a sister could help preteens to feel less lonely, self-conscious and afraid — and more loved.
Having a brother or a sister is linked with a greater inclination to do good deeds.
Thirty-six percent of people say their nutrition is affected by their friends and family. And forty-six percent of people surveyed said that their loved ones make a difference in their overall healthy lifestyles.
Having a strong bond with Dad makes a big difference when it comes to risky teen sexual behavior. For instance, teenagers appear to wait longer to become sexually active when they know their fathers don’t approve of teenage sex.
Talking on the phone with Mom seems to decrease stress hormones and increase the feel-good chemical oxytocin among young girls, between ages 7 and 12.
A child’s academic success is associated with having a mother who frequently communicated with them. This includes talking with the child, listening to them, and answering their questions.
Adolescents whose parents are involved in their lives tend to exhibit fewer behavioral problems. Parent involvement was assessed by how often the parent or parental figure asked about their children’s lives, encouraged their interests, gave good advice, and spent free time with them in school activities.
Teens who frequently have dinner with their families are at a lower risk for substance abuse.
Becoming a father motivated men to eat a healthier diet, exercise more, drink less, and put themselves in dangerous situations less often.
One study investigating 135,000 men found that Dads who had two or more kids are 17 percent less likely to die from heart disease than men who had no children.
People in families tend to live longer.
Men who lived with a partner and their children were less likely to die early from any cause — from heart disease to drug addiction — than single men with no kids or divorced dads living alone.
Strengthening marriage and promoting stable family formation as well as parental involvement can lead to significant gains in student achievement and attainment.
Lisa Elieson, MA, LPC-S
© Hidden Lakes Counseling