Family Therapy
Family therapy is a specialized type of psychotherapy that helps families improve communication, resolve conflicts, and understand one another’s needs and experiences.
Unlike individual therapy, family therapy focuses on the family system as a whole, rather than viewing one person as the “problem.”
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How many sessions does family therapy usually take?
Does insurance cover family therapy?
Can family therapy be done online?
What if one family member refuses to attend therapy?
KEY TERMS
Structural Family Therapy
Founded by Salvador Minuchin, structural therapy focuses on the family’s structure—who holds power, how boundaries are drawn, and how subsystems (like parental units) function.
Goals:
Clarify roles
Create healthier boundaries
Improve communication
Strategic Family Therapy
In strategic therapy, the therapist takes an active role in suggesting specific actions families should take outside sessions. The focus is on:
Problem-solving
Changing interaction patterns quickly
It’s particularly effective for behavior problems in children and teens.
Bowenian Family Therapy
Murray Bowen developed this approach, emphasizing:
Differentiation of self – maintaining individuality while staying emotionally connected
Understanding multigenerational patterns
Reducing emotional reactivity
Ideal for families dealing with intergenerational conflict or anxiety.
