Is your family struggling with conflict, major life changes, or loss?
Family members test our patience in ways no one else can. It’s an everyday and ongoing challenge to communicate effectively with our loved ones. You might feel unheard or misunderstood by your family. These feelings impact the everyday interactions you have with one another. This makes it feel impossible to communicate in healthy ways. Dysfunctional communication in your family results in even more conflict, resentment, and anger. Before you know it, your family life has become a constant cycle of negativity.
If you’re not getting along with your child(ren), you may wonder…
- What did I do wrong?
- Why are my kids so mad at me?
- How am I supposed to handle this situation?
If you’re not getting along with your parent(s), you may feel…
- Smothered by your family
- Helpless in trying to set boundaries
- Angry at your parents for how they handle situations
Whether you’re a parent or a child, you might feel helpless and unsure of what to do to make things better. Perhaps your family once functioned well and has now been affected by life changes and/or loss. Or maybe the problems in your family have been there forever, and only now are they coming to the surface.
Why are family relationships so difficult?
Family dynamics are complicated. Problems between parents and children are deep-rooted and difficult to confront. The issues we have within our families are often exacerbated by:
- Grief
- Divorce
- Remarriage
- Mental illness
- Childhood trauma
- Major life changes
- Resentment built up over time
- Drug addiction and alcoholism
Conflict in families occurs across multiple generations, especially when it comes to:
- Race
- Politics
- Religion
- Finances
- Sexual orientation
Family Therapy In New Jersey Can Help
Families who are at their lowest point have already tried to confront their loved ones. But each time they try, it gets heated or swept under the rug. Parents who try to confront their children are often met with anger or complete dismissal. Children who try to address issues with their parents are often met with defensiveness or denial.
Either way, the issues stay unresolved. The good news is that it doesn’t need to be this way. With the right guidance and techniques, families can learn to address their problems more effectively. This requires a professional who knows how to communicate with you and your family. The professional will also simultaneously make you all feel heard and understood. This kind of professional is called a family therapist or a family counselor.
A qualified family therapist can serve as a neutral third party for you and your loved ones. Having difficult conversations in front of a neutral third party can be a game-changer for your family. How, you might ask?
- A family counselor can help create a safe environment where everyone gets the chance to talk. Interrupting or speaking over each other never helps the problem.
- Having a third party present while talking about the tough stuff eliminates the chances of unfair fighting habits. This could include yelling, name-calling, and storming off.
- Stop repeating the same cycle over and over again. Therapy with a family counselor means finding ways to break the normal pattern of your disagreements. This opens the door to change in your family.
Family Issues Require A Family Therapist
Family therapists do far more than just create a safe space and give everyone the chance to talk. Family counselors also get down to the root of the problem and create opportunities for change.
We know that family dynamics can be complicated. Because of this, you want someone who can help you confidently and clearly navigate this process. A family therapist who is trained in family systems can help.
The family systems approach to therapy means focusing on how the various relationships within your family impact one another. A family therapist can help you understand why your family is stuck and what can be changed to improve the relationships within. A family systems therapist will assess and teach you and your family about:
- Boundaries
- Power dynamics
- Communication styles
- Individual and family trauma
- Effects of grief on the family
- Age-appropriate parenting approaches
- Addressing everyone’s individual needs
Consider Trying Family Therapy in New Jersey
Are you ready to make changes to your family life? Do you want to start on a new path to better relationships? It’s time to try family therapy with a qualified family therapist in New Jersey.
Because every family is unique, the approaches used in family therapy are tailored to meet your family’s values, needs, and goals. We want to truly understand who you are as individuals and as a family unit. We aim to help each of you feel heard and understood in family therapy.
Your time is precious; thus, we aim to create change from the beginning of the therapy process. With a goal-orientated approach, we will focus on finding practical solutions today that will work for your family long-term.
Families of any gender, race, ethnicity, religion, and sexual orientation are welcome here at Mindful Connections.
Begin working with a Family Counselor in New Jersey
With the right approach, change is possible for you and your family. You’re here because the family dynamic is not working for you. The good news is that family counseling is easy to access in New Jersey. Here are the steps to getting started:
- Read our FAQs about therapy.
- Fill out a request form on our contact page to schedule a therapy appointment.
- One of our compassionate team members will contact you within 1 business day (excluding holidays) for a phone consultation. The initial phone consultation is complimentary and helps us learn more about how we can help.
- During the initial phone consultation, our compassionate team member will ask about what you’ve been struggling with, or what you hope to achieve in therapy. We will share information about each of our therapists, including their specialties and availability.
- If we’re a good fit for your needs, we match you with one of our in person or online New Jersey therapists. If either of us feel we are not the right fit, we can provide the names of other providers who may be able to help.
Child Counseling and Teen Therapy in Metuchen, NJ
If you’re a parent, you’re probably dealing with some big emotions from your child. Perhaps your child is making poor decisions or taking their anger out on you. If you’re reading this, you’ve probably seen your child struggling with mental health issues. Starting child therapy in New Jersey or teen therapy in New Jersey might be the answer you’re looking for.
Parents, we know it’s hard to see your child struggle. You and your family don’t have to walk alone on this journey anymore. Our child and teen therapists in Metuchen, New Jersey are passionate about working with developing minds and personalities. Our therapists who provide child counseling in Metuchen, NJ are trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family Systems, and Solution-Focused Brief Therapy. We want to provide your child with a safe space in therapy, while also keeping you involved throughout the therapy process.