What Is Family Therapy?

Article written by Denver family therapist, Molly Ward

Sometimes we find that individual therapy is not the only support that we need. Though profound healing can happen in individual therapy, family therapy offers an opportunity to not just support one person, but to support the whole family system.

When an entire family system can work towards the same goal, long lasting and sustainable change is possible.

What is Family Therapy?

Family therapy is different than individual therapy in that different members of a family work together as a family unit with the therapist during therapy sessions.

A family system can be individually defined and highlights the emotional bonds, shared history, and interdependent relationships.

The goal of this type of therapy is to help all members of the identified family system better understand each other, understand communication patterns, work to resolve conflict, get through difficult situations, and overall strengthen connection with each other.

Family therapy is lead by a therapist who has specialized training in family therapy.

Family theraipsts provide specialized care with unique approaches and techniques that differ from individual therapy sessions.

Types of Family Therapy

There are several therapeutic approaches that have proven to be effective for family work:

Systemic Family Therapy

Systemic Family Therapy views all systems and relationships as interconnected and emphasizes relationships over individual change.

Structural Family Therapy

Structural Family Therapy focuses on family organization, boundaries, and hierarchies, helping families establish healthier patterns of interaction and clearer roles.

Strategic Family Therapy

Strategic Family Therapy targets specific problems and focuses on identifying and creating positive structural change to support the behavioral change.

Narrative Family Therapy

Narrative Family Therapy helps families rewrite problematic stories about themselves and develop more empowering narratives.

Emotion Focused Family Therapy

Emotionally Focused Family Therapy emphasizes emotional connection and attachment bonds between family members.

Issues Family Therapy Can Support

Family therapy can address a wide range of challenges that affect family functioning.

Often, communication problems are at the top of the list.

When family members struggle to express their needs, feel unheard, or frequently misunderstand each other, therapeutic intervention can help establish healthier communication patterns.

Common struggles for children and adolescents like academic problems, substance use, risky behavior or any other mental health concerns have a greater chance of improving when addressed within the family context rather than treating the young person in isolation.

Family therapy also supports families dealing with mental health conditions affecting one or more members, relationship conflicts between parents, parenting disagreements, boundaries issues with extended family, and the complex dynamics that can arise in blended families.

Many families seek help during major life transitions such as divorce, remarriage, job loss, relocation, or the death of a family member.

These events can disrupt established family dynamics and require adjustment from all members.

Substance use disorders within the family create particularly complex dynamics that benefit significantly from family therapy approaches.

When one family member struggles with addiction, the whole family system is impacted.

Trauma that affects multiple family members, whether from external events or from patterns within the family itself, often requires a systemic approach to healing that family therapy can provide.

Signs Your Family Needs Family Therapy

Communication breakdowns are often the most telling indicator.

When family members consistently talk past each other, conversations escalate into arguments, or people shut down and stop communicating completely, professional help can restore healthy dialogue patterns.

Persistent conflict that seems to cycle through the same issues without resolution is another major red flag.

If the same arguments keep happening with increasing intensity, or if minor disagreements regularly blow up into major fights, therapy can help break these destructive patterns.

Emotional disconnection within the family is equally concerning.

When family members feel like strangers living under the same roof, when there’s little warmth or affection, or when family time feels forced and uncomfortable, therapy can help rebuild emotional bonds.

If you’re curious about making some shifts in your family dynamics, family therapy might be worth considering. We would be happy to support your family at Denver Metro Counseling.

***

Denver Therapist, Molly Ward

Molly is a trained family therapist through the Denver Family Institute. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to working with families she supports.

Molly also holds a monthly consultation group for other family therapist to further expand her own resources and network while supporting others in the community who also work with families.