I see many families struggling with calls from the school – their child is in trouble and they don't know where to turn or what to do. Sometimes parents come to me saying they want their child to have a place and a person - to talk with about their feelings and struggles. Honestly, my first reaction is: “Do you want your child to be able to talk to you – to come to you with their problems, feelings, struggles? Do you want to build a loving, caring and sharing relationship with them?”
Families often come into therapy feeling discouraged about how to communicate successfully. The difficulty in communicating has them feeling disconnected and stressed. I find that the best way to work with children is within the family. In Child/Family Therapy, with the family involved, it is not just the child facing the problem. The entire family teams up against the problem – be it behavioral issues, depression, worry, fear or grief.
There is something else that often happens when we all work together. Doorways open and family bonds are re-established, so that families develop a renewed sense of connection and competence. With successful therapy, they leave knowing that they can work together in facing any number of challenges.
Can I share with you the experiences of some of the families I've helped in Child/Family Therapy?
