Family Counseling: When and Why Families Seek Help

Even healthy families experience situations where they can benefit from guidance to regain positive connection. If this is happening to your family, we can help.

Experienced therapists at Fox Valley Institute can help you see how your family system works, how the individual family members within the system are interconnected and how each person’s patterns of relating affect the whole.

Families are like a mobile. Each member, like the pieces hanging from the mobile, is interconnected. When one piece moves, the whole mobile moves. If one piece is disconnected or trying to sustain too much of the load, the mobile is out of balance and ineffective.

To understand the individual is to know his or her place in the system. People simply cannot be understood in isolation from one another. Thus, one family member cannot be a problem in isolation. They simply are part of a struggling system.

Here are some examples of ways family therapy can help you to understand and change your family patterns:

• Understand how the specific ways your family relates define the personality and functionality of your system
• Clearly see how each part of the system affects the others, whether positive or negative
• Identify the family rules and roles created to protect your family system, whether in times of health or dysfunction
• Assess how boundaries ñ whether they exist in extremes or not at all — are affecting the functionality and quality of your family relationships
• Recognize how your particular family system adapts to change in response to its members and the environment
• Distinguish dysfunctional patterns within family systems
• Differentiate normal changes in the family system (predictable life cycle changes) from crisis

Family systems are self-reflective. We have the capacity to examine our own behavior and use our knowledge to set goals and affect change. We do not have to accept things as they are, we can always strive for better connection and effectiveness.

At Fox Valley Institute, we offer a confidential, safe and comfortable space for our clients. From evening and weekend appointment times to our warm and soothing waiting room, your well-being is a priority.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should a family consider counseling?

Families often seek counseling during big transitions like divorce, remarriage or a death, when communication keeps breaking down, when emotions run very high, or when a child's behavior suddenly changes.

What happens in family counseling?

A family therapist meets with some or all family members to understand patterns, improve communication, resolve conflict and help everyone feel heard. Sessions focus on the family as a whole system.

Does every family member need to attend?

Not always. Therapists may meet with the whole family, smaller groups, or individuals depending on the issue. Even partial participation can lead to meaningful change.

Can healthy families benefit from counseling?

Yes. Even strong families face stressful seasons. Counseling can help a family reconnect, adjust to change and build skills before problems grow.

How do we start family counseling at Fox Valley Institute?

Fox Valley Institute offers family counseling in Naperville and by telehealth across Illinois. Call (630) 718-0717 to be matched with a family therapist.

Additional Resources:

https://fvinstitute.com/stepfamily-life/

https://fvinstitute.com/setting-boundaries-can-bring-a-family-closer/

https://fvinstitute.com/5-tips-blended-families/

https://fvinstitute.com/improving-togetherness-by-making-family-time-a-scheduled-event/