Family Counseling at Dayspring
Dayspring offers Family Counseling to help families improve their relationships and behaviors. At Dayspring, we think of a family as a group of people who care for each other. Family therapy can involve different family members, like parents and kids, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, caregivers, partners and more.
Therapy can help with different things, like adjusting to life changes such as moving, getting divorced, empty nesting, or a health issue. It can also help families deal with changes and challenges as parents get older or kids become adults. Family Therapy can also provide support during times of loss and grief.
Family therapy can also be used to treat specific mental health or behavioral problems in a family member. For example, family therapy involving all or some family members can help treat depression or anxiety in an individual.
Dayspring mental health professionals employ various forms of family counseling, tailored to meet the unique needs and circumstances of each family. Our trained counselors possess expertise in diverse techniques and may seamlessly integrate elements from different therapeutic approaches to provide the most effective support.
Among the available family therapy options, Functional Family Therapy (FFT) stands out as a commonly used approach. FFT primarily focuses on families with children exhibiting behavioral issues. The therapists conducting FFT meticulously assess the family dynamics that have contributed to the problematic behavior, fostering improved family communication and parenting skills. Additionally, they provide support for positive reinforcement strategies to enhance the overall well-being of the family.
A technique commonly used in Structural Family Therapy is the creation of a structural map, which outlines the boundaries and hierarchies within the family. Once the map is presented, a therapist can guide members in making changes that foster a healthier structure or dynamic among them.
Narrative Therapy (NT) is a client-centered approach. By positioning family members as storytellers, it encourages a sense of ownership and agency over their experiences. NT fosters resilience and empowers them to challenge and reframe negative beliefs and conclusions about themselves. It is particularly beneficial for families that have members grappling with trauma, depression, or anxiety, as it allows them to detach from their problems and view them as separate entities rather than intrinsic aspects of their identity.
Dayspring counselors employ Strategic Family Therapy (SFT) to closely examine how individuals behave towards each family member and teach them to be mindful of those behaviors. Through this process, our counselors aim to foster mindfulness in the family members.
The process involves examining individual family members’ social interactions and behaviors, identifying communication disconnects that may be causing issues, and creating tasks that challenge those communication behaviors and promote change.
SFT is very interactive between the family members because most of the work occurs outside the session rather than during the appointment. Your counselor may assign you a small behavioral change task to work on at home. These tasks are often manageable, such as using kinder words and a softer tone to respond to repeated family conflicts. Your counselor will then analyze how the alternative responses made you and your family feel and help you make the successful ones a habit.
Family Systems Therapy (FST) is a form of psychotherapy that treats the family as a unit. It's based on the premise that, when something affects one member, it affects every other family member as well; likewise, the strength and stability of a family unit can provide support when one member needs help.
Family therapy can be a lifesaver for couples and families who feel disconnected. But remember, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Your Dayspring counselor is a pro who’ll create a personalized treatment plan just for your family.
And guess what? Family therapy has a long history, with experts coming up with all sorts of cool techniques to help families deal with different issues. No matter what challenges you’re facing or who you’re sharing them with, your counselor can give you the tools and guidance you need to fix things and build healthier relationships.
You may be curious about what to expect from Dayspring Center for Christian Counseling. Established in February 2002, we are a community mental health provider that began as a nonprofit group of local counselors. Our mission has remained unchanged throughout our journey.
Unlike some popular online counseling companies that adopt an “industrialized” approach, Dayspring remains a local organization prioritizing the well-being of our clients over profit. While our reach has expanded from Marshall County to throughout Alabama, we continue to be dedicated to providing affordable, personalized counseling services that have a hometown feel.
