Families can face many challenges throughout the course of their lives. The way families deal with challenges and conflict will determine the type of relationship they enjoy moving forward. Family therapy can help family units come together to resolve their differences and become stronger as a whole. Here are some common issues that a family counselor can help you address:
1. Addiction
Addiction can have a devastating effect on the lives of addicts. However, it can affect the family members of addicts just as deeply. Addiction is a disease, but it can still hurt the people affected by it, especially when a person struggling with addiction lies and steals in order to further their substance use. Family therapy can help family members who love someone struggling with an addiction. A counselor who is well-versed in addiction therapy can help family members learn how to best support their loved ones while managing their own feelings.
2. Mental Illness
Mental illness can make basic tasks insurmountably difficult. A person struggling with depression or anxiety may struggle to get out of bed, go to work, and take care of their responsibilities. Serious mental illness can be difficult for people to understand, and watching a loved one struggle with their mental health can be painful. Family therapy can help the spouses, children, and parents of a person struggling with mental illness attain a support system of their own.
3. Teenage Rebellion
Adolescence can be a difficult time for teenagers and parents alike. As children grow into their teen years, they're ready to take more risks and begin trying to distinguish themselves from their families. This can be difficult for some parents to understand, especially if teenagers start acting out in inappropriate ways. Family counseling can help parents and teenagers come to a healthy understanding.
4. Family Changes
Many families grow and change over time. Parents may welcome new children into the world, get divorced, or even get remarried. Each of these changes can prompt difficult emotions within the family unit. Children may struggle with the idea of their parents getting divorced or marrying different people. Older siblings may experience feelings of jealousy at the prospect of a new baby in the house. Fortunately, it's possible for people to work through these feelings together. Family therapy can help each member of your family discuss their feelings in an open and honest way that helps your family as a whole move toward resolution. If you think this is the right step for you, look to family therapy clinics in your area.
