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Family therapy in Minnesota has been on the rise over the last year due to the disruption to modern life that so many Minnesotans have felt during the pandemic—the constant presence of masks, social distancing from loved ones, and families going for a whole year, in some cases, without seeing at-risk loved ones.
If you and your family are in search of family therapy in the Minneapolis area look no further. Our caring and compassionate staff are here to help. Contact us today to learn how you can receive family therapy in the Minneapolis area with Steps For Change.
Family therapy is a type of therapy that’s done with a family unit. The idea behind family therapy is that the issues that one person is dealing with don’t just affect that person, but rather the entire family.
Family therapy is done in a group setting typically once a week and may include the therapist meeting with each family member individually. The therapist’s role is to guide the conversation and to help the family members resolve conflict and improve communication in a way that is healthy for everyone.
When seeking options for family therapy in Minneapolis, residents should zero in on professionals versed in working with families and not just any therapist. Family therapy requires a different approach from one-on-one therapy.
Family therapy is a collaborative process between family members. The therapist works with the whole family, typically once a week, to help them resolve the issues they’re having.
Our trained therapists will get to know each family member in a group or individual setting. They will also try and gain some insight into family history, family structure, relationships within extended family, communication within the family, and roles each member has.
Family therapy often happens in the therapist’s office, but can also be via teletherapy. The duration of therapy can be anywhere from 1 to 6 months but is typically fairly short compared to other therapies.
A family experiencing conflict or dysfunction may need help in learning better ways to communicate or to heal from past traumas. That can come in a variety of forms. Here are the most common.
Relationships can be difficult to maintain. That’s true whether talking about romantic or parent-child relationships. Most therapists hear common themes throughout.
Much of it revolves around communication breakdowns. Kids say their parents don’t listen to them, and parents say their kids don’t listen to them or refuse to “grow up.” If Mom and Dad or Parents and Children have difficulties communicating, it can come out in some pretty dysfunctional ways that only family therapy can help.
Addictive behaviors can take many forms. Perhaps someone in the family struggles with alcohol or a drug problem. Those issues can filter down and affect others within the family.
Given the access to such substances, it can also lead to the children becoming addicted as well. That’s because they have easy access and impaired caregivers incapable of keeping them from substances.
Whenever substance abuse happens to one family member, it sends reverberations that affect every other family member. Those reverberations can be physical, mental, emotional, or all three.
Parents who struggle to maintain authority are common in dysfunctional families as the children get older and their “acting out” takes on more adult behaviors (with more adult consequences). Parents undergoing these issues have a very small window to deal with it, and family therapy can help.
Behavioral health issues can be triggered in many ways.
It doesn’t matter which family member is affected by or experiencing these things. It creates a negative aura that’s contagious to the rest of the family.
Children born with disabilities like ADHD and adults who experience mental health issues later in life— all these factors create financial and emotional stressors on the rest of the family. It can be tough getting one’s bearings, especially in the beginning of dealing with a disability of any kind.
Family therapists help family members come to terms with how their lives might change as a result of the disability. They provide emotional support and help their clients work out these issues in time.
There are a few things you should look for in a family therapist in the Minneapolis area. The most important is that they’re trained in family therapy, so they have a broad understanding of the relationships between family members.
It’s important to look for licensed social workers, licensed professional clinical counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, and other master-level degrees in psychology and related fields.
You also need to feel like they hear you. Meet with your therapist. Get a sense of the chemistry they have with you and the other members of your family. Take some extra time to find the right fit.
Finding a family therapist in MN means familiarizing yourself with what to expect from the overall process. It means identifying the root of your family’s needs and what you all hope to achieve through the process. But you have to trust the process!
At Steps For Change, we have qualified family therapists that are ready to assist your family to become stronger. Start by contacting us to book an appointment today.
Brooklyn Center Outpatient Office
6040 Earle Brown Dr. Suite 420
Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
Edina Outpatient Office
7401 Metro Blvd. Suite 495
Edina, MN 55439
Steps For Change (SFC) is using the information provided by credible sources, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the American Red Cross, to guide our approach to the virus. Currently, SFC’s offices remain closed to clients/families, guests, and non-essential personnel. SFC is still accepting new referrals and teletherapy appointments are being offered through Zoom to new and pre-existing clients. Our goal is to continue to provide good customer service to all our visitors and ensure all staff are employing best practices.
For more information please refer to the Steps For Change Preparedness Plan: SFC Covid-19 Preparedness Plan Effective 6.15.2020
When entering into a Steps For Change location, please abide by the following Safety Precautions: COVID19 Safety Precaution Policies 6.15.20 (COVID19 Safety Precaution Policies – Spanish 6.15.20)
