Family Therapy Near Philadelphia, PA

Family therapy is a form of psychotherapy or talk therapy that focuses on family relationships. A standard definition of “family” may include parents, children, and siblings, but family therapy can be expanded to include other loved ones as well. Families may seek therapy in any combination of family members; not all family members have to attend at the same time.

While family therapy focuses on improving communication and connection between family members, it can also be used to treat things like substance abuse disorders and other clinical or mental health disorders. Although only one family member might have a condition like ADHD, depression, or a personality disorder, all members of the family are affected.

Therapists who conduct family therapy are usually Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists who specialize in the unique dynamics that develop in family units.

There are many different approaches to family therapy that stem from different theories. Some of the most common are discussed below. A family therapist might use just one model or might combine aspects of different approaches during therapy sessions.

Structural Family Therapy

Structural family therapy focuses on the structure of the family. In this model, the therapist observes the family interaction during a session to understand the roles and boundaries in the family. The therapist might call out enabling or co-dependent behaviors they see and help the family establish healthy boundaries and roles.

Strategic Family Therapy

Strategic family therapy focuses on specific relationship issues within the family. In this model, the therapist does not focus on the underlying causes of a problem but instead seeks to help the family solve dysfunctional behaviors or styles of communication in a safe environment.

Intergenerational Family Therapy

Intergenerational family therapy focuses on the ways each generation affects the other(s) in a family. For example, children might learn negative communication styles or emotional management by observing their parents or caregivers. In this model of therapy, the therapist describes the reactions of each family member during the session and encourages communication using “I” statements.

Narrative Therapy

Narrative therapy focuses on how people live their lives through stories. In this model, the therapist encourages each family member to view themselves as separate from their problems and not defined by them. The therapist may also help the family explore family myths or stories that shape the family members’ understanding of the family as a whole (i.e., “so-and-so is the black sheep.”) Once a family understands its stories, new narratives can be created to effect change.

In the past several years, many studies have been conducted on the different methods of family therapy to demonstrate how effective different models can be for various conditions.

A 2019 study by Jimenez et al. showed that “adolescents exhibited fewer internalizing and externalizing problems after [undergoing structural or strategic family therapy].”[1] Parents said they found their families were closer and they had greater effectiveness as a parent through the use of more authoritative parenting methods, rather than permissive or authoritarian.

In a 2021 study on couples, Delfanazari, Behbodi, and Dokaneifard found that their study showed that intergenerational family therapy increased self-control and decreased anxiety in couples contemplating divorce.[2]

In 2018, Nina Tejs Jørring and Karsten Gjessing Jensen found “that NFT [Narrative Family Therapy] has a direct positive effect on patients’ own evaluation of the burden of symptoms, and parents’ perceived personal agency regarding their child’s distress.”[3] Adolescents included in the survey had different diagnoses, from autism to depression.

The variety of family therapy models available shows that family therapy is effective for addressing a wide range of conditions.

During a session of family therapy, all members of the family gather in the therapist’s office or other communal space, like a conference room. Generally, chairs are placed in a circle or in a way that family members can face each other. The goal is to promote discussion and equality, so no one feels left out or pushed to the side.

Family therapists will often lay ground rules at the beginning of therapy, such as:

• Each member of the family will be able to talk without interruption.
• Each member of the family will be asked to share their thoughts.
• No one may yell or use profanity.
• Family members can disagree with each other, but must wait their turn to talk and disagree respectfully.
• Only one conversation may take place at a time; no side conversations or comments will be allowed.

Rules like these ensure that everyone can participate and feel respected while sharing their views. The therapist may include other rules depending on the situation.

Once the foundation is laid, the therapist will lead the family in a conversation about the issues at hand. Some families are better at sharing directly with one another, while others might need more coaching and questions from the therapist.

The therapist will help each family member understand how their words and actions affect others in the family and how each person is being perceived. The therapist will also help the family brainstorm solutions for problems or think about how the family can work together more positively.