Every family is unique, yet all families share one thing in common: they profoundly shape our lives.
Our families are where we learn, grow, and heal, and the support we receive from family members is often invaluable in overcoming challenges. But families can also be a source of stress, conflict, or strain, which can be equally impactful – and often hugely detrimental – to our overall health and well-being.
Whether your family is facing specific challenges or you’re seeking to deepen your connections, family therapy can help.
From addressing communication issues to navigating difficult life transitions, resolving conflicts, or supporting a loved one through mental health struggles, family therapy offers a supportive space for families to grow and heal together.
People often think family therapy is a last resort for families in crisis, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Keep reading to find out more about what it involves, the issues family therapy can help fix or support, and how it might benefit your family.
What is family therapy?
Family therapy, also often referred to as family counseling, is a form of talk therapy (psychotherapy) designed to help improve the relationships, communication, and dynamics within a family.
Unlike individual therapy, which is centered on just one person, family therapy involves working with multiple members of the same family unit to see how they influence one another, and how they can work together to overcome challenges or conflicts, improve communication, and build stronger relationships.
This type of therapy is led by a trained family therapist who acts as a neutral mediator, and who is skilled in helping families understand their unique dynamics and issues, identify unhealthy patterns, and develop practical tools for both strengthening bonds and resolving conflicts.
Ultimately, the overall aim of family therapy is to create a better home environment, in whatever way that may be. It’s never about placing blame, but about fostering understanding and collaboration within the family unit.
What issues can family therapy help fix?
People often think family therapy is reserved for families in extreme crisis, but that’s not the case at all.
Family therapy can help with a wide range of issues and challenges, from sibling conflicts to significant life transitions and dealing with illness or mental health issues.
Here are some of the most common issues that family therapy can help address:
- Communication breakdowns – difficulties expressing thoughts or emotions, frequent misunderstandings, or conflicts that escalate quickly.
- Parenting conflicts – disagreements over discipline, co-parenting challenges, or struggles adjusting to blended families.
- Sibling conflicts – resolving persistent rivalries or tensions between siblings to create a more balanced and supportive family environment.
- Behavioral issues – addressing defiance, emotional outbursts, or school-related concerns in children or teens.
- Mental health struggles – supporting a family member dealing with any kind of mental health condition, such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, and more.
- Addiction and substance abuse – helping families navigate and/or heal from the impact of addiction, while also creating a supportive environment for recovery.
- Grief, trauma, or life transitions – coping with the loss of a loved one, divorce, remarriage, or other significant life changes.
- Trauma – supporting families in understanding, processing, and coping with the effects of trauma, whether shared or individual.
- Acute or chronic illness – helping families cope with both the emotional and logistical impacts of a family member suffering from a significant illness.
- Neurodevelopmental and behavioral disorders (e.g., autism, ADHD) – supporting families with a neurodivergent member in learning how to manage behaviors, improve communication, and ensure a supportive home environment for the whole family.
But it’s important to remember that family therapy isn’t just about fixing problems. It’s about strengthening connections and building a more supportive foundation for your family to thrive.
What to expect in family therapy
There are various types of family therapy that utilize different frameworks, so – like all types of psychotherapy – family therapy is a flexible process, tailored to the needs of your family.
However, the overall approach to family therapy will always bear similarities, so here’s a general idea of what it might involve:
In the first session, your family therapist will talk with you about the concerns that brought your family to therapy. Each family member will have an opportunity to share their perspective, while your therapist observes how everyone interacts and identifies areas to work on.
Subsequent sessions will focus on improving communication, resolving conflicts, and building a stronger family dynamic. You might explore your family’s history, roles, and coping strategies, or work on practical exercises to reinforce healthy behaviors. Your therapist may also use tools like mapping family dynamics or assigning “homework” to apply what you’ve learned between sessions.
It’s worth noting that, although it helps if everyone is involved, family therapy doesn’t always require every family member to participate; meaningful progress can still be made with just a few members present.
Above all, family therapy is a safe, supportive, and non-judgmental space where your family can grow, heal, and reconnect.
Types of family therapy
As with all types of talk therapy, there are various different forms or types of family therapy, each with its own approach and unique characteristics.
Here are some of the most commonly used and effective types of family therapy:
- Structural family therapy – This focuses on the roles, boundaries, and hierarchies within the family (i.e. its structure). This method is ideal for families with unclear roles or enmeshed relationships.
- Strategic family therapy – Usually a short-term therapy, this is a goal-oriented approach that uses practical techniques to address specific issues, such as conflicts or parenting challenges.
- Systemic family therapy – This approach views the family as an interconnected system, exploring patterns and dynamics to understand, and improve, how each person’s actions affect others in the family, and the family as a whole.
- Cognitive-behavioral family therapy (CBFT) – Combining traditional CBT techniques with family therapy, CBFT addresses how thoughts and behaviors impact the entire family and teaches practical ways for the whole family to change and address these patterns.
- Bowenian family therapy – This classic approach focuses on generational patterns and how they can impact emotional reactivity. This is very useful for families with long-standing conflicts, generational trauma, and high reactivity.
- Narrative family therapy – This approach encourages each family member to tell their own story, so they can start to see things more objectively. They are then guided to reframe negative narratives and create empowering, solution-focused stories that will help shape how they see themselves and how they relate to others.
- Psychoeducational family therapy – This is centered on helping family members better understand specific mental illnesses or challenging behavior patterns, so they can develop strategies to better support one another and improve the overall functioning of the family.
The type of family therapy best suited to you will always depend on your family’s particular needs and circumstances. Some family therapists specialize in certain types of family therapy, but more and more now adopt a holistic approach combining elements from several, depending on your family’s needs.
Benefits of family therapy
Like all types of therapy, family therapy offers a huge number of benefits – and not just for the family unit, but for each individual member.
Here are just some of the many benefits that can come from getting family therapy:
Benefits for the family as a whole:
- Improved communication.
- Stronger relationships and emotional bonds.
- Reduced conflict.
- Greater mutual understanding.
- Better ability to navigate life’s challenges together.
- Gaining skills for coping with challenging situations.
- Identifying problem areas within the family dynamic, which often have deep-seated or generational roots.
- Creating a healthier home environment.
- Fostering a sense of teamwork and shared goals.
Benefits for individual members:
- A supportive environment to work through personal struggles.
- Reduced feelings of isolation.
- Improved emotional well-being.
- Personal growth and stronger identity within the family unit.
- Learning healthy conflict-resolution skills.
- Support during mental health challenges.
By helping both the family as a whole and each individual member, family therapy can make a real difference in how you connect and communicate. Even small changes – like learning to listen better or approach conflicts differently – can create ripple effects, strengthening relationships and making home life feel more peaceful and supportive.
Whether your family is working through challenges or just wants to feel closer, the benefits of therapy can be far-reaching and truly life-changing.
Family therapy and individual treatment
A common question about family therapy is how it works alongside individual therapy or other treatments one family member might be receiving. And the good news is that the two can work very effectively alongside each other.
For example, if a teenager is working through depression or another mental health concern in one-on-one therapy, family therapy can focus on helping to educate other family members, improve communication, and create a more supportive home environment. Or, if someone is recovering from addiction, family therapy can help address enabling behaviors, rebuild trust, and foster accountability.
By addressing both the individual’s challenges and the family’s dynamics, this combined approach can make progress faster and more meaningful – helping everyone move forward together.
It’s possible for the same therapist to provide both the individual and family therapy, but often it will involve different therapists who might collaborate (with consent) behind the scenes to align treatment goals and coordinate care.
When first reaching out for therapy of any type, this is something you can discuss, and your therapist or treatment center will be able to recommend or organize the most suitable therapists for you. Likewise, if you or a family member are already in individual therapy and want to explore family therapy (or vice versa), your existing therapist will be able to make the best recommendations.
Seek help as a family with Reach Behavioral Health
Every family faces challenges, and it’s more common than you might think to need extra support.
Reaching out for help shows courage and a commitment to creating a healthier, happier family dynamic, and family therapy can be a powerful tool for helping your family to heal, grow, and find new ways to connect – whatever the struggles you’re facing.
At Reach Behavioral Health, our experienced and compassionate family therapists provide personalized support to help your family work through difficulties, strengthen your bonds, and create lasting positive change.
If your family is facing difficulties, we’re here to help. Contact Reach Behavioral Health today and start your journey toward healing as a family.