Family Therapy: Communication, Conflict Resolution, and Coping

Family Therapy is very important in many families and homes for several reasons. Family therapy helps many families with communication issues and it helps to resolve major family conflicts. Family therapy also assists family members become able to relate to one another in a positive way. Family therapy also helps families going through traumatic events such deaths, divorces, and major illnesses. Family therapy can involve certain members of the family or the entire immediate family. Family therapy services are offered in several different settings.

Introduction into Family Therapy
After studying psychology for a semester, I’ve learned that there are many different types of psychology that physiologist use to diagnose, evaluate, and understand their patients. Family Therapy is a form of psychotherapy that concentrates on families and couples in close relations, in confidences of bringing positive change and growth. Family therapy has several goals, the most common goal is to help families understand how their family functions work.

The second goal is to detect the strengths and weaknesses within the family unit.

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Another common goal is to improve communication skills within the family system and help everyone communicate and understand each individual’s emotions. Family therapy treats many different types of conditions and disorders that develop within the family. Martial problems are the most common conditions treated within the family unit. The effects of a family illness when a family member becomes sick with a disease. Many teenagers and parents go to family therapy for teenager-parent conflicts and solutions for rebellious teenagers.

Family Therapy is also used to help families cope with difficult ordeals. Some of the difficult ordeal and situations families deal with in family therapy are sudden tragic deaths of a family member. Another reason people use family therapy is to help deal with family divorces and the after effects of families separating. Family therapy is also used to help cope with new the addition of family members such as newborn babies, stepfamilies and stepchildren, and difficulties that follow.

Family Therapy is used with children very often for several different reasons, It helps families, teachers, and psychologist understand behavioral problems, determine if there are any mental illnesses, and to also help keep children on a healthy mental track. Family therapy sessions are held in many different locations such as in private practice, school counselors and licensed social workers involved in the school setting, as well as in local outreach community centers.

Family therapy benefits children who have learning disabilities for several reasons; one reason is that it helps the children have another person for them to communicate and discuss their problems with. Another reason family therapy is good for children with learning disabilities is because it helps the parents and teachers understand what the child is going through academically, behaviorally and socially.

Another reason family therapy benefits a child with learning disabilities is because it helps family members understand the environment needed to help the child be successful. Family Therapy helps to benefit children with mental illness for several reasons. Family therapy for children with depression helps because it allows the child to open up their emotions and it helps the family unit have an understanding of the patient’s mental status. Family therapy also helps children with depression think in a more rational manor and helps them with problem solving strategies. Finally, family therapy also helps with anger management as well as social skills training. ‘

Family therapy is used with couples very often, and typically is short term. Family therapy with couples helps to identify and solve major conflicts and improve their relationships. With the help of family therapy, people usually make positive decisions about rebuilding their marriage or about parting ways and divorcing. Family therapy in couples is generally attended to by both spouses and requires both parties participation. Occasionally, a session may be requested by just one spouse for individual counseling.

Family therapy with couples is usually because of the many challenges couples face in marriage. The most common issue couples have is infidelity. Many spouses have trust issues and lack confidence in themselves as well as their relationship. Family therapy with couples also deals with issues such as trust, sexual relation issues, anger issues, and the effects of illnesses. Family therapy with couples also seeks to help spouses deal with the loss of a child and to help with couples whom conceive children.

Family therapy also helps couples deal with substance abuse and couples going through domestic violence. Family therapy with couples typically has about 10 sessions and each session is usually an hour. Couples must always be willing to cooperate with the psychologist and be willing to open and express their feelings to the psychologist. Both parties must also be willing to go the extra mile and participate in the activities the psychologist assigns for the couple to do at home.

Family and Marriage therapist must go through many years of school, training sessions, and licensing seminars. Family and Marriage therapist have a great responsibility with keeping patients on a healthy mental track. In order to become a Family and Marriage therapist, a candidate must receive a master's degree in marriage and family therapy before they are allowed to practice. Students attending graduate school will learn about marriage, families, and relationships. A supervised internship is generally part of earning this degree.

A candidate one must have a bachelor's degree, and it does not have to be in a particular area of study. In addition to a degree, a Family and Marriage therapist needs a license to practice marriage and family therapy. A Family and Marriage therapist must complete two years of a clinical experience under a licensed therapist's supervision and pass a state administered exam. Marriage and family therapist licenses last for a two-year period. A Family and Marriage therapist must earn continuing education credits to practice in all states.

Family and Marriage therapist have a professional association named American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. In addition to counseling families therapist must interact with insurance companies about compensation for treatment. A Family and Marriage therapist also refer clients to other therapy venues such as community agencies, support groups and inpatient facilities. A Family and Marriage therapist have flexible schedules and work evenings, weekends, and holidays. A Family and Marriage therapist occasionally make house calls and work in hospitals.