Boynton Beach Family Counseling Family counseling, also referred to as family therapy, is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on the family as a unit and addresses communication problems, conflicts, or other issues the family is facing. Family therapy could be between a parent and a child, two siblings, a grandparent and grandchild, or an entire household. At Gateway Counseling Center in Boynton Beach, you and your family members can work with an experienced family therapist to help you overcome any challenges. The family unit is a wonderful and complex entity. Families aren’t always defined by blood relationships. In fact, there’s no one specific way to define ‘family’. A family can be any group of people that live and exist together under one roof. A family can be a collection of relatives that we’re born into, a foster family, an adopted family, or a community of people that care about each other’s well-being. Regardless of who is involved in your family unit, family counseling can help you learn to communicate better and bring out the best in one another. Our values, thoughts, feelings, communication styles, and perspectives are all shaped by our family. In most cases, our immediate family members are our very first relationships. If we live and exist in a strong, healthy family unit, it’s likely that we’ll apply our family values to our other relationships. However, if our family has unhealthy forms of communication, an inability to express emotions, underlying anger or resentment towards one another, or other issues, it’s not only difficult to maintain healthy relationships within our family, it’s also hard to build relationships outside of our family. This is why family counseling is an important path to consider if you feel strained by family conflicts. Gateway Counseling Center can provide family counseling for those who are hoping to work through family conflicts, learn to communicate more positively, understand each other’s emotional experiences, and build healthier relationships with one another. Call 561-468-6464 or contact our family counseling center today in Boynton Beach to speak with a family therapist and begin your healing journey together. More About Family Counseling in Boynton Beach Deciding to go to see a family therapist can be a formidable task. You’re not only convincing yourself that family counseling is the right path, but you’re also dealing with the thoughts, emotions, and possible fears of other family members. If you’re attempting to invite other relatives to begin family therapy together, understanding what family counseling is and how it works may help you address your concerns or the concerns of others in the family. That’s why we wanted to provide this list of frequently asked questions that many of our clients face when considering family therapy. Hopefully, these answers can help you feel more secure about embarking on a family counseling journey. If you have any other questions or concerns about family counseling, don’t hesitate to reach out to Gateway Counseling Center and speak with a mental health professional today. What is the purpose of family counseling? The purpose of family counseling is mainly to identify the problems that exist within the family unit. These problems may be in the form of behaviors, communication styles, relationship issues, or other conflicts. When you identify what these challenges are and how they’re perceived by each family member, you can begin the real work towards healing. This isn’t simply about solving a family problem, because family counseling goes way beyond conflict resolution. Family counseling can help you resolve family conflicts and overcome them in a productive, positive, and compassionate way. Think of your family unit as a system that needs to function properly in order for everyone to be emotionally and mentally healthy. The purpose of family counseling is to assure everyone that the system is functioning well and benefits everyone in some way. Call 561-468-6464 or contact Gateway Counseling Center to learn more about the key purposes of family counseling. How does family counseling work? The way in which family counseling is carried out will depend on the family and their specific challenges. Overall, there are some general constructs of family therapy that can help you understand how it all works. When you and your family members begin family therapy, you’ll most likely: Identify the problems, obstacles, or challenges that the family is facing and discuss the problem-solving approaches that aren’t currently working. Examine the family’s positive traits, strengths, and moments when problem-solving approaches have worked in the past. Explore the family’s ability to communicate, express emotions, and empathize with one another. Discuss personal thoughts and emotions that you may not have previously shared with family members with the assistance and guidance of a licensed and experienced family therapist. To understand more about how family counseling works, reach out to our counseling center today. We can schedule an appointment for you and your family to meet with one of our experienced family counselors. What are the benefits of family counseling? There are many benefits that stem from family counseling. Our family therapists are equipped to help families in a number of different ways. Some of the benefits of family counseling include: Gaining a better understanding of one another’s thoughts and emotions. Learning to empathize with each other. Experiencing a stronger connection as a family unit. Communicating more clearly with one another. Improving the family’s problem-solving approaches. Understanding each other’s roles within the family. Learning coping strategies. Overcoming issues that lead to family dysfunction in the past. There are just a handful of the positive effects that family counseling can produce. To discuss the specific benefits that are possible for your family, contact Gateway Counseling Center today to speak with a family therapist. What is the goal of family therapy? Every family will enter family therapy with a different goal. Each family has unique challenges that stem from their own human experiences. For instance, you may have a goal to communicate more positively with a parent, while a parent’s goal may be to learn how to emotionally express themselves to a child. However, there are some all-encompassing goals of family therapy that can apply to any family unit. Some of these goals of family therapy are: Learn to work together to solve any mental, emotional, or psychological problems that affect the family system. Work towards a healthy, functional family system. Improve communication styles, problem-solving strategies, and the ability to empathize with one another. Create a loving, compassionate, and positive home environment. Again, the goals of each family and each family member will range widely. To talk to a family therapist about your family’s therapy goals, contact Gateway Counseling Center in Boynton Beach today. When should you seek family counseling? The moment a family decides that they’re ready for family counseling will depend on various factors. However, there are a few key things to keep in mind that can help you realize that you and your family are ready for family counseling. First and foremost, when your traditional forms of problem-solving are no longer working and the family can no longer exist in a positive and healthy home environment, it’s time to seek family counseling. This is often when problems become bigger than the family unit itself, and the only way to begin the healing process is to seek help outside of the family from a neutral third party and experienced family therapist. A family therapist can offer a perspective that the family may have not considered in the past. A family therapist can help you see your conflict in a different light and present new ways of approaching problems. If you believe family therapy can benefit your family, but you’re not sure if it’s the right time, speaking with a family counselor about your circumstances can help. How much does it cost for family counseling? The rates of family therapy will depend on a few different factors such as the frequency of therapy sessions or the period of time it takes to address the family’s struggles. To get a better idea of what family therapy costs, call 561-468-6464 or contact our counseling center today. A therapist will be able to discuss the cost of family therapy with you.