~Do you worry about the safety of your adolescent?
~Do you wish that you could have open communication with your spouse about parenting?
~Do you wish that you could laugh and have fun as a family?
~Do you stay at work longer than necessary to avoid going home?
If so, family therapy may be exactly what you need to talk about the hard issues and learn new ways to create a healthy home environment.
What is Family Therapy?
Family therapy is a type of therapy that treats the family as a whole, rather than as individual parts. Family therapy is based on the belief that each family is unique, given their history, values, and the personalities of each family member. Family therapy should include all pertinent members of the family and even may include “honorary” family members if needed.
My Approach
I believe that humans were designed for relationship and that family is a sacred social system dating back to the beginning of time. I believe that each family system is unique and complex and as a result, treat all families with respect. I believe that all members of a family contribute to the family dynamic, for better or for worse. Which means, that all family members should be actively involved in making things better.
I have specialized training in Functional Family Therapy (F.F.T.) and Emotionally Focused Therapy (E.F.T.) my approach with families is strongly based on these models.
Functional Family Therapy (F.F.T) is a model designed to:
- Reduce conflict
- Reduce negativity & blame
- Increase family hope
- Learn new skills that aid in family growth
Functional Family Therapy (F.F.T.) was created by Jim Alexander, Ph.D. after he realized that traditional family therapy models were not always enough for certain families. The model is designed to be short term (~12 sessions) and behaviorally-focused.
*I am not part of a F.F.T. consultation program nor do I collect research data from our sessions.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (E.F.T.) is a model designed to:
- Expand and reorganize emotional responses
- Increase secure attachment
- Implement and foster secure bonds between family members
Emotionally Focused Therapy (E.F.T.) was created by Dr. Sue Johnson in the early 1980s. The model is designed to be short term (8-20) sessions and has over 20 years of research to demonstrate the model’s effectiveness.
As your therapist, my goal to shift the negative family patterns that contribute to acting out behavior. I believe that all family members contribute to the family dynamic in some way or another and help each person take ownership for developing a new pattern for relating. The skills that I teach are tailored specifically for your family.
What to Expect
Typically sessions are scheduled for 50 minutes. At first, I will ask a lot of questions and get to know your family. This stage of therapy is designed to help with assessing the specific challenges, needs, and strengths of your family so that I can better help you. After the assessment is over, I will teach your family specific skills designed to target problem areas within your family. After you have learned and practiced the skills, we will discuss ways to maintain the changes that you have made in your home. I always strive to give every family member the opportunity to talk, while acknowledging the uniqueness of every family system.
If you are interested in discussing whether family therapy is right for you, please contact me at (720) 606-3202 or at joyful.living.counseling@gmail.com
Heather Young, M.A., L.P.C. is licensed therapist who is conveniently located for clients from Greenwood Village, Denver Tech Center, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Denver, and Englewood.