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Family Therapy at Wellspring

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At Wellspring, every kind of family is welcome. We offer in-person and online therapy options to accommodate your family’s needs. There is no “one size fits all” solution to all families’ inevitable social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. Family relationships are rich and complex, and whether you are a parent, child, sibling, or spouse, we all play a role in how the family system functions daily. When these relationships are challenged by big life transitions, trauma, conflict, and other external stressors, it can take a huge toll on everyone’s mental health and well-being.

Our Diverse and Highly Qualified Team

Our highly experienced and trained therapists include licensed child psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, and marriage and family therapists. They can help you and your family develop strategies and solutions to address your family’s unique situation. While our therapists often work individually with children and teens, they approach each family as a system, and all members are invited to participate in the therapeutic process. Wellspring therapists are compassionate and caring and can provide guidance and strategies for various issues.

Comprehensive Family Support: Challenges We Help Navigate

  • A significant life change such as divorce, loss of a family member, or a move
  • Difficulties with anger management
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • School refusal
  • Intense irritability or mood changes
  • Social isolation or interpersonal difficulties
  • Trauma-related difficulties
  • Sleep issues (such as insomnia, wakefulness, or nightmares)
  • Technology-related challenges – excessive use or overuse

In addition to family therapy, we provide individual therapy for children, teens, and adults, specializing in anxiety and depression treatment.

Evidence-Based Approaches

Our therapists are trained to utilize various evidence-based strategies, including interpersonal neurobiology, cognitive behavioral therapy, attachment-based and trauma-specific treatment, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy(PCIT), social learning, and sand tray therapy. We particularly emphasize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for children and adults.

Family Therapy – Breaking Unhealthy Patterns

Sometimes, it takes someone outside the family system to identify how relationships get stuck and unhealthy patterns develop. Our therapists utilize a strength-based approach to identify individual and shared strengths, work through entrenched patterns, embrace new ways to support and love each other and improve communication between all family members.
We recognize the importance of cultural background in family dynamics and are sensitive to the needs of families from diverse cultural backgrounds, including those living outside their home culture.

Whether dealing with relationship issues, divorce, conflict, or other challenges, our compassionate approach aims to help your family repair, recover, and thrive.

Frequently Asked Questions About Family Therapy

At Wellspring, we utilize various approaches tailored to each family’s needs. The four main types of family therapy are:

  1. Structural Family Therapy: Focuses on family organization and dynamics.
  2. Strategic Family Therapy: Aims to solve specific problems through targeted interventions.
  3. Systemic Family Therapy: Examines how family interactions influence individual behavior.
  4. Narrative Family Therapy: Helps families reframe their stories and experiences positively.

Our therapists are skilled in these and other approaches, allowing us to adapt our methods to best serve your family.

While each family’s journey is unique, family therapy often progresses through these general stages:

  1. Initial Assessment: Understanding your family’s challenges and dynamics.
  2. Problem Identification: Clarifying specific issues to address.
  3. Active Change: Implementing new strategies and communication patterns.
  4. Practice and Integration: Reinforcing positive changes in daily life.
  5. Termination: Concluding therapy as the family becomes more self-sufficient.

Our therapists guide you through these stages at a comfortable and productive pace for your family.

While family therapy is generally beneficial, it’s important to be aware of potential challenges:

  • It may initially increase family tension as issues are addressed.
  • It requires commitment and effort from all family members.
  • Some family members might be resistant to change.
  • It can be emotionally challenging as difficult topics are discussed.

Our experienced therapists are trained to navigate these challenges sensitively, ensuring a supportive environment for all family members.

The terms are often used interchangeably, but there can be subtle differences:

Family counseling typically focuses on specific, immediate issues.
Family therapy often involves more in-depth work on family dynamics and patterns.

At Wellspring, we offer short-term and longer-term therapy, tailoring our approach to your family’s unique needs and goals.
What is a common diagnosis for family therapy?
While family therapy doesn’t always involve a specific diagnosis, common issues we address include:

  • Family conflict
  • Communication problems
  • Adjustment disorders related to life changes
  • Behavioral issues in children or teens

Remember, family therapy is beneficial for addressing diagnosed conditions and improving overall family functioning and well-being.

Families come to therapy for various reasons, including:

  • Major life transitions (divorce, relocation, loss)
  • Behavioral issues in children or teens
  • Communication breakdowns
  • Conflict resolution
  • Coping with a family member’s mental health issues
  • Improving overall family dynamics

At Wellspring, we’re equipped to help with these and many other family challenges, always with a compassionate and tailored approach.