Families come in all forms, and no two families look alike. Some may have two parents, others only one; many grandparents and extended family members are raising other family members’ children. Some children live in foster families, adoptive families, or in stepfamilies. Families are much more than groups of people who share the same genes or the same address. They should be a source of support and encouragement. This does not mean that everyone gets along all the time. Conflicts are a part of family life. Many issues can lead to conflict and listening to each other and working to resolve conflicts are important in strengthening the family.  Family counseling helps all kinds of families to build on their strengths and to locate solutions to their problems.

"Family therapy," or "family systems therapy," works with families to nurture change and development. As developed by Murray Bowen, it sees the family as more than a collection of individuals, but as a system with rules and roles for each member. It emphasizes family relationships as central to good psychological health. 

The difference between individual and family counseling is that the "client" is the family — not the individuals in the family. A family therapist doesn't focus on one member as the "problem" and try to fix her or him. The issues that families face are always a product of the "system" they create together. 

Family counseling can take a variety of forms. Sometimes it is best to see an entire family for a few sessions. Other times, it may be better to see children and their parents separately. Whatever the format, the goal of family counseling is to focus on patterns of each member interacts with the others instead of trying to find the "causes" of problems. That way the family therapist can avoid "blaming" that may cause individuals to become defensive and hinder progress.  Family Therapists identify the dynamics that cause problems and institute changes in the structure or style of how the family operates. A small change in one area can often have tremendous impact on other areas which means that significant gains can often be produced quickly and dramatically.

Family therapy is often short term. Each family's specific treatment plan will depend on their unique situation. Family therapy sessions can teach family members skills to deepen family connections and get through stressful times, even after therapy has been completed.

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