Counseling for Troubled Families
For parents and teens who are experiencing instability in their relationships.
We all know how tricky it can be to raise a teenager. We want the best for them, and it’s so difficult to see them struggle. As parents, we are in the most important position to help these kids feel more secure and confident, but it’s easy to feel lost about how to best approach supporting a teenager in today’s world. Some of us have tried hard to help our kids thrive, but we have faced resistance from strong-willed teens who want to do things their way. Others of us have teens who are so anxious that we wonder if they will ever be able to function independently as adults.
As a marriage and family therapist trained in Emotionally Focused Family Therapy, I know that for a child of any age, having a safe haven and a secure base at home makes everything more manageable.
When I work with a family, I help parents become more attuned to their teen’s emotional needs by creating opportunities during sessions to experience something different. First, we break down the cycles going on within the family system and understand some of the blocks that come up for parents when they try to provide emotional support for their teens. I also work with teens to help them recognize the source of their frustration and fears. When we have created an atmosphere of safety and trust, we dig deeper to access the real emotions under the stress, conflict, and anxiety.
Because the work I do is relational, I only work with teens whose parents are willing to participate in therapy because you are the most important people who will ever interact with your child. We will have a combination of family, parent, and individual sessions, but it will be a family endeavor.
Session Fee: $135 for 50 minutes
“If we want our children to be independent, to go out and take on the world, we have to give them full confidence that they can come back to us as needed. Autonomy and connection: That’s secure attachment.”