When you think of therapy, individual therapy probably comes to mind first. But that’s not the only option! Where relationships are involved, couples or family counseling often plays a role in the healing process. Family members can have different communication styles, clashing personalities, or contrasting beliefs that contribute to regular conflict, and these sorts of issues need to be addressed as a family. Summer Counseling in Oakdale, Minnesota, provides a curated space for this, allowing clients to tackle conflict between romantic partners, parents and children, siblings, or other relations. You will have the chance to explore family dynamics in a non-judgmental, supportive environment and help your family work together to improve relationships and trust.
The Purpose of Family Counseling
Family counseling can be an ideal path to better communication and a fun, peaceful, and content household. It doesn’t just address individual problems, but also allows each person to feel valued and connected to the rest of the family. In family counseling, parents can learn ways to help guide their children during emotional moments and develop strategies to improve behavior. Siblings learn ways to cooperate, share, and be independent problem solvers, which leads to less of the squabbling and tattling that drives parents crazy!
If any of these sound like you…
- There is a lack of honest or respectful communication within the family
- You feel disconnected, angry, or upset about family members’ behaviors
- You or other family members feel isolated and alone
- There are feelings of judgment or dismissive acts
- You’d like everyone to better understand other opinions and thoughts
- You’d love to strengthen family bonds and build self-esteem
- You genuinely want to respectfully resolve conflict and improve relationships
… Then family counseling might be the perfect path. Whether aimed at addressing small issues or dealing with potentially relationship-breaking challenges, family therapy offers evidence-based, compassionate support. It’s especially useful when coping with changes to the family unit due to divorce, blending families, children leaving home, or death.
Different Types of Family Therapy
Family counseling at its core is a collaborative process where family members come together to address issues that are affecting their dynamics or well-being. This includes:
Guiding Families Through Life Transitions
At Summer Counseling, we provide compassionate support for Minnesota families who are struggling with divorce, blended families, relocation, death, or other transitions.
Parent-Child Therapy and Therapy for Children
When children face behavioral or emotional challenges, it’s often helpful to involve parents or caregivers in the process, making it a form of family therapy. Family therapy with younger children often involves creative activities, such as play or art therapies, and “homework experiments” to try new ways to communicate, divide responsibilities, and reduce power struggles.
Support for Couples and Queer Couples
Couples therapy is a large part of our family services. We work with all types of partnerships, including LGBTQIA+ and non-traditional couples. Our queer couples counseling is affirming, identity-conscious, and trauma-informed—focusing on establishing or mending bonds in a way that also honors your unique relationship structure.
Our Approach to Counseling
At Summer Counseling, we combine evidence-based techniques and therapies to foster an environment of openness and respect. We won’t just be telling you what to do; instead, we’ll help your family work together to improve relationships with each other and themselves. We can provide you with the right tools, appropriate approaches, and healthy insights. Working with a family therapist from our team, client frustrations often ease or disappear, problems become more manageable, and healthy communication paves the way for calmer, happier relationships moving forward.
Get Started Today
By encouraging honest, empathetic communication and implementing family-friendly strategies that aid healing, family counseling becomes an empowering process. If you’d like to see how it can help your family find peace, contact Summer Counseling today for an appointment at our Oakdale office. Our team of family therapists includes Jennifer Kokes, Morgan McGinnis, Tyler Zgodava, Jen Traw, Maria Andrew and Mallaigh McGinley