Last updated on July 9th, 2022 at 11:00 am
Every family goes through tough challenges from time to time. Sometimes, those struggles seem impossible to overcome without intervention. This is where good counseling comes into play. But how does one find the best top-rated family counselors near me? Keep reading and we will answer this question and more.
We all want a perfect life. And in the absence of one, many people present their lives as perfect on social media.
Reality TV is just as problematic. Images of family vacations or sitting around medieval-sized dinner tables on the holidays (with none of the challenging sides of family life) plague our airways giving us the perception that this kind of life is attainable.
It isn’t.
The reality is that even those people who appear to have the kind of family life we all dream of can suffer from the same issues that we all do. Financial worries, work responsibilities, and disagreements can take their toll on any family, but TV and social media rarely show that side of life.
Sadly, many families fall apart unnecessarily because these daily stresses become too much to bear. Family counseling is an under-utilized tool that can teach people the skills they need to repair the wounds their families have suffered and to rebuild their relationships to become a happy family despite their problems. Not in the absence of them.
The most challenging part of any arduous journey is taking the first step. If you’re reading this, you’ve already done the hardest part, but there’s still a long way to go, so let’s get started.
Best Family Counseling Near Me: What Is It?
Unlike other types of therapy, family counseling is group-based therapy in which all the family members attend the same session to try and resolve the issues that are troubling them. This kind of counseling is typically short-term and consists of approximately six to ten sessions.
This type of counseling aims to rebuild broken relationships and restore harmony within the family.
Though it is beneficial for all family members to attend the sessions, not everyone needs to be present for the title “family counseling” to still be accurate. While traditional therapy addresses an individual’s thought processes and behaviors, family counseling seeks to unravel the problems within a family and instead focuses on empathy, communication, and cooperation.
A quick Google search, such as ‘top-rated family counselors near me’, is likely what brought you to this page. You can click on the directory button at the top of the page to search for licensed MFTs (Marriage and Family Therapists) and LCSWs (Licensed Clinical Social Workers) near you. Or, you can click the orange button below to start the process of being quickly matched with the best family therapist online who is ready and able to assist you.
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When Should You Seek Top-Rated Family Counselors Near Me?
Family problems are distinctly unique. In fact, family problems are as unique as the families themselves. However, whatever issues you and your family are going through, chances are their roots are planted in one of the following areas:
- Separation or Divorce
- The Loss of a Loved One
- Substance Abuse
- Significant Lifestyle Change (moving house, job, new birth)
- Physical or Emotional Abuse
- Behavioral Issues (Usually a teenager or child)
- Traumatic Incidents
Your family doesn’t necessarily need to go to therapy just because you’re going through one or more of these issues. Still, counseling could be beneficial if other stressors such as breaching family boundaries, social isolation, or increasingly vicious arguments present themselves.
You don’t have to wait until you feel your family is at breaking point before searching for the best family counselor near you or online. If you think your family might be heading down a destructive path, you can preemptively go to therapy and be proactive rather than reactive.
Family counseling isn’t only limited to those immediate family members and those with blood ties. Anyone involved in your family dynamic who has the potential to be part of the problem and the solution is welcome to go to your session: including but not limited to grandparents, extended family, close friends, stepchildren, stepparents, and life partners.
What Happens When You Visit The Best Family Counselor Near Your Or Online?
A typical family therapy session will last about 50 minutes as a general rule of thumb, but this will depend on the therapist conducting your sessions. The first time you go will be a ‘getting to know you’ session where the therapist will learn about each family member, family history, and your reason for attending therapy.
The therapist will use this time to observe your family’s interactions to better understand your family dynamics and identify where the problems might arise.
All affected family members will attend the majority of the counseling sessions. However, it’s not uncommon for your therapist to recommend individual assistance sessions if they think it could be beneficial to resolving your family’s problems.
At the start of each group session, your therapist will establish a set of ground rules to help avoid further conflict and ensure a respectful and confidential conversion occurs.
Techniques Of Top-Rated Family Counselors
There are many counseling techniques in a family therapist’s arsenal that they can use to help restore harmony within your family. The most common of which are the Structural, Strategic, Systemic, and Bowenian methods.
Structural
The family therapist will focus on creating a structured family dynamic to reestablish a hierarchy and correct any imbalances that may have found their way into your family.
Strategic
Strategic counseling involves the therapist giving your family-specific tasks that will give your family a different perspective of your problems and promotes a better understanding of what’s happening at home.
Systemic
Using the Systemic approach, your family therapist will seek to understand the deep-seated issues within your family and drill down to the bedrock of the problem. Learning why your family is going through these problems is more likely to resolve the issue than talking about the problems themselves.
Bowenian
On the occasions that a specific family member causes anxiety or stress to other people in your family, your therapist could deploy the Bowenian method. This counseling technique involves the therapist working separately with your anxious family member to give them the skills to better deal with the responses to the person who causes them to feel stress. Letter writing and role-playing are often used in this technique.
No matter the technique your therapist uses, the aim of all family counseling sessions is to restore healthy boundaries to your family by identifying behavioral patterns that cause the issue and giving every family member the confidence to have their voice heard.
Benefits of Attending Family Counseling
There’s more to family counseling than conflict resolution. Undergoing family therapy and committing to the process often results in family members developing skills that they can employ in other areas of their lives. Other benefits include:
- Improved Conflict Resolution Skills
- Better Communication
- Increased Self-Awareness
- Closer Family Bonds
- Greater Self-Confidence
These invaluable skills will not only enhance your family life but help you to build more positive relationships at work, in your local community, and among your social groups and circle of friends.
Find Top-Rated Family Counselors Near Me & Online
If you are struggling with some sort of family-related issue, there is no reason to fight that battle alone. Finding a top-rated family counselor near you or online has never been easier. You can click on the directory button at the top of this page to locate the best family counselors near you.
Also, consider doing online family counseling. There are several benefits to working with one of the best family counselors online, including easier access, lower fees, and added convenience. Click the button below to learn more and see if family counseling online at BetterHelp is right for you.
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