Family Therapy

A family may be parents and children, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren, adoptive or foster families, or just the family you choose. Whatever your family is like, when this support system breaks down, it can lead to difficulties with just about every aspect of your daily life. When your family unit is divided, no longer communicating well, dealing with a loss, or addressing any number of struggles, a skilled family therapist can help. At Stokes counseling Services, we’re happy to provide traditional therapy services for Naugatuck families in our office as well as the unique FAM (Families Are Made) Program, which takes place in the home.

Individual therapy may also be referred to as counseling or psychotherapy. Many people think of therapy as the sessions themselves which may take place in our office, virtually via video chat, in a hospital setting, or even in the home in some cases. However, therapy is more of a process than an event. Your sessions are important, but you need to continue working outside of these visits with the counselor to see real change. When you partner with a professional counselor, you’ll receive the guidance to safely and effectively explore emotions, beliefs, and behaviors that you may be struggling with.

As is the case with individual therapy, your family may want to work with a counselor for a number of reasons. From a breakdown in communication to a rift in the family due to divorce, a family therapist can help you reestablish a successful and thriving family system. Some of the many reasons families choose to work with us include:

• One or more family members is struggling with performing to their typical capacity
• One or more family members seem to display extreme emotional responses
• One or more family members are failing or struggling to communicate effectively
• One or more family members have withdrawn from the family system
• One or more family members are experiencing violence within the family system or from an outside perpetrator
• One or more family members are struggling at work, school, or other activities outside the family unit and they may need additional support
• Family members are experiencing difficulty coping with loss, grief, abuse, or other traumas
• Family members are having difficulty working through a divorce, remarriage, or other change to the makeup of the family system

Family therapy may include a combination of individual and group therapy sessions.  As is the case with individual therapy, the first family therapy session will be about creating a partnership and getting to know your counselor. That may include many steps, such as assessment and goal planning. After this intake session, we may want to schedule individual or pairs counseling sessions to address some of the most significant areas for concern. While it’s referred to as family therapy, this doesn’t necessarily mean that every family member will be at every session. We’ll work flexibly with the members of your family to ensure they receive the time and attention they need to begin to contribute to a thriving family system. Some of the specific concerns that may be addressed as part of family therapy include:

One of the most unique therapy options available from our team is the FAM Program. This is an in-home therapy options where one of our skilled counselors will visit you in and help rebuild or improve your family system. The FAM Program is currently accepting referrals in the Greater Waterbury area, Greater Naugatuck Valley, Greater New Haven area, and Torrington/Winsted areas. Don’t see your location? Give us a call at 203-729-0341!