Family Therapy

It’s hard to keep your family happy and in sync when conflicts persist, trust is broken, or behavioral problems become daily challenges. But you can turn to Nadège Petrie, LPC, LMHC, and the experienced therapists at Hopeful Minds Counseling Services in Newberg, Oregon, when you need compassionate support and family therapy to help you overcome your family struggles. Hopeful Minds welcomes all families, whether traditional or unconventional, and specializes in the unique challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC families. Call the office or book online today to request a family therapy appointment.

What is family therapy?

Family therapy deals with the challenges affecting the entire family unit while also recognizing and treating the needs of individuals. A family unit includes everyone in your household, whether or not they’re related.

Hopeful Minds Counseling Services doesn’t limit family therapy to the traditional nuclear family. They specialize in providing therapy for unconventional families, whether that means single parents, LGBTQIA+ or BIPOC families, blended families, or grandparents raising grandchildren.

When should we seek family therapy?

Most people turn to therapy when they can’t resolve problems or conflicts spiral out of control. You may decide it’s time for therapy when family members:

• Stop communicating
• Engage in destructive communication (insulting or disrespectful)
• Criticize and blame one another
• Have dysfunctional or disruptive behaviors
• Engage in emotional or physical abuse
• Isolate one person (as punishment or because they disrupt the family)
• Don’t allow individuals to achieve their own goals and dreams

Sometimes, families find themselves being controlled by one person demanding everything be done their way. When these and other problems persist, the family environment turns negative and causes emotional damage to everyone.

What problems can family therapy improve? 

The Hopeful Minds Counseling Services therapists have helped families cope with and overcome an array of difficult issues, including:

• Parent-child conflict
• Sibling conflict
• Gender identity and transitions
• Traumatic experiences
• Behavioral problems
• Trouble at school
• Substance abuse
• Becoming a step-family
• Divorce or separation
• Major life transitions (moving, birth of a new baby, or job loss)
• Mental health disorders (in any family member)

Everyone in the family unit is affected when one person struggles with a mental health disorder. Your therapist may recommend individual therapy in addition to family therapy if this happens in your family. 

What should we expect during family therapy?

After meeting with your family and learning about your dynamics and challenges, your Hopeful Minds Counseling Services therapist works with you to set goals and develop a treatment plan. 

There are numerous therapeutic approaches that work for family therapy. No matter what type of therapy your counselor uses, they focus on positive, practical solutions. For example, they may teach ways to resolve conflicts, manage anger, and communicate openly, honestly, and respectfully.

Call Hopeful Minds Counseling Services today or use online booking to request an appointment and take the first step toward restoring a strong, supportive family.