Approaches for Families

There are various reasons families might seek a family-based therapy approach:

• Behavioral Parent Management Training:  For young children with ADHD, non-compliance, and other behavioral challenges, behavioral parent training is the most effective, empirically-supported treatment. These interventions, such as Parent Management Training or Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, teach parents skills that can improve the child’s compliance, bolster the child’s self-esteem, enhance school success, and improve family relationships. The therapist works with the parents, and then with the parents and child together to learn and practice new patterns of interaction. The therapist can also support the family in developing effective home and school behavior plans.  
• Support for families experiencing stress due to COVID-19:  Most parents and children are experiencing greater levels of stress in family life because of lifestyle changes that have taken place due to the Pandemic. Family sessions can help parents feel supported in their efforts to balance work with school and childcare responsibilities. Family sessions can help children cope better with the challenges of remote learning, restricted social interactions, and anxiety about the virus. 
• Family-Based Decision-Making:  Family conflict often increases as children grow into adolescence and young adulthood. This collaborative approach can help families more effectively communicate around family rules, parents’ expectations, and the teen’s strivings for more independence and responsibility. This therapy is designed to help families meet developmentally-appropriate milestones as children grow into adolescents and emerging adults. 
• Family Therapy:  A general family-based therapy approach can be helpful to address a variety of issues, such as relationship conflict, the impact of an individual’s mental illness on the family, or a general need for increased support around other family challenges.