Family Counseling

How can family counseling help me?

Every family goes through challenging times and transitions, and family therapy can help you navigate adversity, whether it is conflict, poor communication, and resentment or trauma or major life events.

There is no such thing as a “normal” family – only what is “normal” for you. If you think of a family as a solar system in which each person exists as both an individual and part of a system that moves together to function, you have a good picture of how a family functions (or dysfunctions).

In family therapy, I look at all the different roles people take on and what the dynamics are within and between people and the family as a whole. From there, I work with families to help them build upon their strengths to de-escalate conflicts and resentment, mindfully communicate with each other, and shift out of patterns that are damaging and lead to cut-offs and isolation.

Can You Help Us With Making Better Parenting Decisions?

Parents can feel lost and powerless at times, especially when they or their children are struggling with a variety of behavioral or mental health issues. While I do not tell anyone how to parent, I worked for years running a family and parenting program in which I met with parents individually and in groups to support and guide parents through difficult choices regarding their children as well as improve overall communication.

What if our issues are with our tween or teen?

What’s great about working with young people is that they are more likely, to be honest in their thoughts and more open to change than parents might think! While adolescence can be a challenging stage for most families, it can also be a key time for creating better communication. In family therapy, I create a safe space and slow down conflict so that each family member feels heard and understood, as well as learns to hear and understand others.

Does family counseling work for everyone?

If family members are invested in change and willing to work together to put in the effort, then change will happen. A critical element for success is everyone’s willingness to take responsibility for their part in the family’s dynamics, and to see how to change on an individual level can contribute to change in the whole system.

What if one of our family members refuses to attend?

I often work with families who have members unwilling or unable to participate in therapy. No matter what, I will look at the dynamics of the people who are present, and will frequently have sessions with different “subsystems” in a family, such as just siblings, a parent, and one child, or the parental unit alone. Sometimes, even if someone refuses to meet with the whole family, they may still be willing to meet together with one or two other members.

How long does it take to change family conflicts?

Depending upon a family’s goals and needs, family therapy can achieve results in 10 - 12 sessions, including meeting with various subsets. In fact, many families begin to see improvements in mutual understanding, communication, and connection in just a few sessions!

Can you help us with making better parenting decisions?

Parents can feel lost and powerless at times, especially when they or their children are struggling with a variety of behavioral or mental health issues. While I do not tell anyone how to parent, I previously ran a family and parenting program in which I met with parents individually and in groups to support and guide parents through difficult choices regarding their children, as well as improve overall communication.

Do you offer teletherapy across New York State?

I do! I offer virtual sessions via a telehealth platform that is simple to use and HIPAA-compliant for privacy. I conduct all sessions from a private office.

Get in touch with me

You can reach me via phone or email for a free 15-minute consultation, and I will respond within 24 hours.