Family therapy is a form of counseling that focuses on improving how family members relate, communicate, and solve problems together. Unlike individual therapy, which addresses one person’s experiences, family therapy looks at the system as a whole—how each person’s behavior affects and is affected by others. It’s helpful for managing conflict, parenting struggles, emotional distance, behavioral concerns, or adjusting to major life changes.
At Ascend Counseling & Wellness, we work with all types of families—traditional, blended, extended, and chosen. Our therapists provide a safe and neutral space where everyone can feel heard and supported. Using proven, evidence-based approaches, we help families recognize unhelpful patterns, strengthen emotional connections, and build more effective ways of working through challenges. Whether the issue is new or long-standing, family therapy helps everyone move forward with more understanding and unity.
Families come to therapy for a variety of reasons. Sometimes the issues are situational and short-term; other times, they may be long-standing and deeply rooted in communication breakdowns, conflict cycles, or unresolved emotional wounds. Common reasons include:
Parent-child conflict
Marital or co-parenting disagreements
Blended family transitions
Divorce or separation support
Sibling rivalry or tension
Behavioral issues in children or teens
Family responses to mental illness, addiction, or trauma
Grief and loss within the family
Life transitions, such as a new baby, a move, or financial stress
Family therapy is not about placing blame—it’s about understanding the system and working together toward solutions.
Family therapy sessions typically last 50–60 minutes and may involve all family members or only a subset, depending on the goals and structure of the family. Sessions are collaborative, goal-oriented, and tailored to meet the needs of each family system.
Key elements include:
Identifying and changing negative interaction patterns
Improving communication and active listening
Clarifying roles and expectations
Building empathy and emotional understanding
Exploring generational influences on behavior
Creating actionable strategies for positive change
Sessions may rotate who participates week to week, allowing the therapist to work with specific subgroups, dyads, or individuals when appropriate, while keeping the broader family dynamic in focus.
At Ascend Counseling & Wellness, we tailor treatment to your family’s unique needs using evidence-based methods like:
Structural Family Therapy: Realigning roles and boundaries for better family functioning
Bowenian Therapy: Managing anxiety and promoting healthy differentiation in relationships
Emotionally Focused Therapy: Strengthening emotional bonds, trust, and secure attachment
Narrative Therapy: Rewriting negative family stories to support healing, growth, and identity
Solution-Focused Therapy: Focusing on strengths, resources, and building achievable future goals
We also incorporate trauma-informed care, cultural responsiveness, and mindfulness techniques as needed to support meaningful and lasting change for your family.
Family therapy can benefit:
Families experiencing chronic conflict or recent disruption
Parents who feel overwhelmed, unsupported, or unsure how to manage difficult behaviors
Teens or children acting out, shutting down, or struggling emotionally or socially
Siblings who frequently argue or struggle to get along peacefully
Families facing a collective stressor (e.g., illness, job loss, relocation, trauma, or caregiving challenges)
Any family seeking to strengthen bonds, improve day-to-day harmony, and build long-term emotional resilience and understanding
You do not need to be in crisis to benefit. Many families use therapy proactively to deepen connection, improve communication, and navigate life’s challenges with greater unity, purpose, and support.
Family therapy can offer both immediate and lasting results, such as:
Increased emotional safety within the home
Better family problem-solving and decision-making
Reduced conflict and tension in daily interactions
Greater empathy and understanding among all family members
Stronger support systems for individual mental health
Clearer boundaries and improved respectful communication
Enhanced ability to navigate life changes and challenges
Because we are a group practice, we offer a multidisciplinary team of therapists with different specializations, training backgrounds, and therapy styles. This allows us to match your family with the clinician best suited to your situation, whether that involves:
Child and adolescent development
Trauma and PTSD
Autism spectrum challenges
High-conflict divorce
LGBTQ+ family dynamics
Cultural or intergenerational concerns
Parenting support or behavioral challenges at home and school
We believe there is no one-size-fits-all approach—your therapist will collaborate closely with your family to develop a plan tailored to your values, goals, and needs.
If your family is feeling disconnected, overwhelmed, or stuck in repetitive patterns that aren’t working, family therapy might be the support you need. It’s not about fixing one person—it’s about healing the system together.
