Orange County Teen Family Counseling
Helping parents of teens create strong bonds and peace in their homes.
Family can be our greatest source of joy, and also our biggest source of stress…
Every family system experiences some amount of stress.
Between managing schedules, chores, carpooling, and finding time to rest; being a part of a family can be our greatest source of purpose, and also, somehow, our biggest source of frustration.
When you are at odds with the people that matter most to you in life, it is hard to focus, and get through the day. Investing in a space where you can be open as a family, could be vital to your mental health and overall happiness.
These are some common concerns families come to me with, for family counseling in Orange County…
Revisiting the same arguments
Misunderstandings
Not feeling heard
Feeling unappreciated
Apathy towards each other
Lack of vulnerability towards each other
Lack of perspective taking
Challenges seeing the deeper meaning behind each others behavior
Frustrated with having to constantly nag
Lack of negotiation
Lack of follow thru
Rigidity
Unable to sense they are cared for
Lack of adaptability
When it gets to be too much, you may find yourself avoiding each other. It might be hard to enjoy the things you love, outside of your role as a parent.
This is no way to live– family therapy or a teen parent support group in Orange County can help.
Together we will identify solutions to understand the common patterns and unmet needs, that are driving these interactions. I can teach you how to move towards greater compassion, and respect for each other.
I am skilled at getting buy in from your teenager to redefine and reinvest, in the relationship with you. This is a new stage in your relationship, for both of you.
The changes from parenting a child, to parenting a teen, can bring about significant amount of grief for all.
Your child, is now getting ready to step out into the world! Chances are, they are feeling a great deal of fear and excitement. They might shut you out, when they don’t know how to express their feelings, and communicate their needs. An entire world is ahead of them filled with opportunity, adventure, and responsibility.
In family counseling, we will work together to explore what a healthy relationship, looks like for both of you. One that allows for both autonomy and closeness.
Most teenagers have confusion around what connection means to them at this stage in their life. I enjoying motivating teens to open their minds to redesigning what healthy connection looks and feels like.
When teens become more flexible in understanding requests and expectations, they become teachable. Integrating their perspective in decision making, is key in getting buy in and creating change.
As a parent, I help you see things from a developmental perspective.
It is very normal for a teenager to be mastering the skill of follow through. Unfortunately you might feel like you have to keep teaching it. Remember they have 14 years of life experience. Keep teaching it.
It is also normal for a teenager to have challenges feeling confident and self-assured. These are very normal developmental tasks, in building a sense of self. More life experience, allows for more sense of self. I can help you normalize their doubts, while supporting them in becoming more sure of who they are.
How Does Family Therapy in Orange County Work?
I connect with your family from the framework of Emotionally Focused Family Therapy. This means behaviors, are just as important as experiences.
This approach focuses on establishing trust, safety, bonding, and emotional accessibility with each other. Each person in your family has needs, motives, and priorities. Here is a great summary of how this approach works:
An important part of family therapy is being able to understand what a “day in the life” is like for each other. Entering into each other’s emotional world is vital. One of my favorite things to do is to help teens see beyond their world and step into the world of the people they love. As a child, you were there entirely for them. In the teen years, they need to learn what mutual relationships feel like.
Teens need practice in seeing how healthy relationships work. Part of learning healthy relationships is learning how to consider your needs and vice versa.
Everyone in family therapy has room to grow.
As a parent, I will help you become more curious and open with your own blind spots.
Before I can understand the challenges you are having as a parent, we will become curious together, on how your upbringing shaped you. This will give us windows into your life experience that deserve respect and attention.
Not everyone attends each family therapy session. The majority of the time we are all together, but there are times when I might need to get to know each of you more individually, in order to really understand who you are and what’s important to you.
When you finish your family therapy treatment, you will be able to have more flexible conversations when things come up. You will develop greater insight into how each of you work, and be prepared to communicate your needs and wants more effectively. The tools and skills you learn, will be available to help you, well beyond the end of our time together.
While its impossible to not live in a family without its ups and downs, the extent to which they effect your life, can change.
Connect with me today to learn more about how family therapy in Orange County can help you.