Families
When someone asks you how your family is, do you find the best answer is, "It's complicated"?
You aren't alone.
Families with Teens
The transition from Childhood to Young Adult is complicated for everyone. Young people are tasked with forming their Personal Identity, understanding their Sexuality, developing Social Networks, and Navigating Society. Parents and Families can find themselves struggling to keep up with the changes, at times they might feel as though they are living with a stranger. Communication doesn't have to be a battle. Counseling can give you the tools to find your way.
Blended Families
When families break apart and come together with new members there are a lot of emotions and interpersonal dynamics to navigate. As much as we would like it to be, blending families is not straight forward. Grief, loss, confusion, anger, joy, excitement, fear, and sadness are all a part of this experience in some form or another. Counseling can aide in the process of finding common ground and learning how to find acceptance and comfort in the new Family System.
Non Traditional
This is a blanket phrase which is clumsily used to cover many different meanings. In Counseling, I find that Families who, due to their composition, are subject to raised eyebrows, sideways glances or more plainly discrimination, are grouped into the Non-Traditional category. Discrimination for any reason causes a psychic wound. Our Family is our Primary Support Network, this is who we look to for understanding and compassion. The Counseling setting gives a platform for expressing and talking about how the composition of your family has impacted it's members. Each member of the family can work through their own experiences and seek to find safety and acceptance within the Family Unit.