Family Therapy: Building a Home Where Everyone Belongs
When one person in a family is struggling, the whole family feels the weight. You might feel like you’re walking on eggshells, or perhaps your home has become a place of constant "firefighting" rather than connection. Family therapy isn’t about pointing fingers; it’s about looking at the invisible threads that connect you and making sure they are strong enough to hold everyone.
What is Family Therapy?
I view a family as a living, breathing ecosystem. My role is to help you understand the "climate" of your home. We look at how communication flows, how boundaries are respected, and how each person’s unique needs—especially for neurodivergent members—are being met. We aren't trying to create a "perfect" family; we are working toward a family that knows how to repair and reconnect after the hard moments.
My Philosophy: Uplifting Every Voice
In my practice, the child is never the "problem." Instead, we look at the patterns and environments that are making things difficult. My approach to family work is:
Radically Inclusive: I ensure that the quietest voice in the room is heard just as loudly as the loudest. Whether that’s through talking, drawing, or shared activities, everyone gets a seat at the table.
Neuro-Affirming Lens: Families often come to me when neurotypical expectations are clashing with neurodivergent realities. I help families stop fighting against their child’s wiring and start building systems that honor it.
Non-Judgmental & Flexible: There is no "right" way to be a family. If your family needs to move around, sit on the floor, or take breaks during a session, that is welcomed. We do what works for your family, not what a textbook says you "should" do.
How We Work Together
Family sessions are active, creative, and tailored to your specific dynamic. We don't just sit in a circle and talk; we do the work of connection in real-time.
Coregulation Coaching: We practice how to stay calm together. When one person’s "alarm system" goes off, we find ways for the rest of the family to be the "calm in the storm" rather than adding to the wind.
Translating "Languages": Sometimes family members are speaking different emotional languages. I act as a translator, helping parents understand their child’s "behavioral" communication and helping kids understand their parents' concerns.
Collaborative Problem Solving: We move away from rewards and punishments and toward working together to solve the hurdles of daily life—like school mornings, screen time, or chores—in ways that respect everyone’s autonomy.
Celebrating Your Culture: Your family has its own unique culture, humor, and strengths. We lean into those as our primary tools for healing.
A Safe Space for Hard Conversations
Family therapy provides a "neutral territory" where it is safe to be honest. It’s a place to heal old wounds, set new boundaries, and rediscover why you like being a family in the first place. My goal is for you to leave my office feeling like a team again.
"A healthy family isn't one that never struggles; it's one that knows how to find its way back to connection when things get hard."