Family Therapy
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Family Therapy works best if the children are approximately 9 years of age or older. If there are family dynamic issues with children under the age of 9, it is beneficial to talk directly with the parents and have the parents implement and utilize techniques discussed in the office within their family home setting(s). It is helpful to meet with the family as a whole. It is also valuable to meet with each individual family member in order to ascertain unique perspective differences without engaging in the deleterious systemic dynamic that brings the family to therapy. |
Whether a family is in tact or split, it is important that both parents share similar parenting views, behavioral responses and routines for children in order to reinforce predictability and consistency. It is common for parents to have different parenting styles. Even for the most volatile situations, Edging Life creates a common shared family platform in which these parental differences can respectfully co-exist.
An efficiently functioning family system contributes to increased couple happiness whether it be with biological parents or blended step families. When parents' visions are in focus with each other, not only are they happier, but their children have a more clear perspective of cognitive, emotional and behavioral expectations. When children trust their environmental home world(s), they feel safe to be who they are. When children don't feel safe to express thoughts, feel emotions and/or "act out," in their homes, as they get older they will be more likely to exhibit internalized and externalized problematic behaviors including: drugs and alcohol, fights, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, sexual promiscuity and social phobias. As the expression states . . . little people, little problems; big people, big problems.
Relational problems don't go away unless relational weeds are pulled. When weeds are ignored and not pulled, they subtly regrow in new directions. One day flowers in the garden no longer thrive.
There is no reason to feel shame when families experience dysfunction. At one time or another, all families whether they are split or in tact will experience some form of discord. The sooner a distressed family creates a shared board game, understands common objectives and plays with the same set of rules, the less friction the family will experience.
An efficiently functioning family system contributes to increased couple happiness whether it be with biological parents or blended step families. When parents' visions are in focus with each other, not only are they happier, but their children have a more clear perspective of cognitive, emotional and behavioral expectations. When children trust their environmental home world(s), they feel safe to be who they are. When children don't feel safe to express thoughts, feel emotions and/or "act out," in their homes, as they get older they will be more likely to exhibit internalized and externalized problematic behaviors including: drugs and alcohol, fights, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, sexual promiscuity and social phobias. As the expression states . . . little people, little problems; big people, big problems.
Relational problems don't go away unless relational weeds are pulled. When weeds are ignored and not pulled, they subtly regrow in new directions. One day flowers in the garden no longer thrive.
There is no reason to feel shame when families experience dysfunction. At one time or another, all families whether they are split or in tact will experience some form of discord. The sooner a distressed family creates a shared board game, understands common objectives and plays with the same set of rules, the less friction the family will experience.
Licensed MFT #48698