How are you ever going to keep it together?
Everybody’s on edge. Stressed. Irritable. Or distracted and withdrawn, trying to sort out their own problems. The everyday things you used to handle now seem overwhelming.
You’re not communicating like you once were – it’s almost as if something’s broken. It’s either fire or ice – you’re having heated arguments or sealing each other behind a wall of ice with the silent treatment.
And “family time?” Forget it. You’re all so busy that you feel you hardly see each other, much less sit down for a meal or meaningful activity together.
Or perhaps one or all of you have suffered a trauma. A significant life event such as death, divorce, separation, an affair, substance abuse, or even violence can tear even the strongest of families apart.
It may seem hopeless.
It’s defeating. It’s easy to feel embarrassed – like you’ve failed. You wonder if it’s gone too far.
Every family has seasons – even the ones that seem “perfect.”
But there’s something you need to understand. No family is perfect; it’s impossible to be happy and stable all the time.
The key is to strive for strength and health – so when the tough times come, you can handle them together.
But it isn’t.
Family counseling means different things to different people. To some, it might be parents meeting with a counselor to discuss a situation involving their teen.
To others, it could be a gathering of the entire family – with a counselor to help one specific individual within the family. Sometimes there is a common issue negatively affecting each member.
Most often, I work with a parent or two, along with their child or teen. But regardless of the situation, family counseling can be beneficial when you’re going through a troublesome time.
Every member matters.
When working with kids or teens, I always want to make sure I hear every voice. Your son’s opinion is very important, and I’ll make sure that you each have time to share your side of the situation.
Of course, this is also the case when there are no kids around. Everyone has time to speak and express themselves. The expectation of mutual respect for all parties is key to our success.
If you are interested in meeting together as a family to discuss something, keep in mind that all adults must consent to the counseling. Also, any minors involved must have consent from their parent or guardian.
Time to give family counseling a try?
You know you need to take action, but perhaps you’re still uncertain whether your situation is appropriate for family counseling.
Don’t worry. Reach out to me with your questions.
I can help you make that decision, and I look forward to helping bring you together even stronger than before. (949) 799-2014
*I am fluent in Spanish; servicios disponible en español.