Family therapy can help improve communication, facilitate conflict resolution, and reduce frustration.
There are many benefits to participating in therapy, such as
- getting what you really want in relationships with your kids and your partner
- enhanced ability to identify and express how you are feeling and what you want
- more considerate and respectful relationships
- peace and more ease at home
In family therapy, I guide the people I serve to translate complaints into achievable requests and to focus on what is wanted, rather than not wanted. I acknowledge each person's feelings and needs and encourage authenticity and eye contact. For example, I sometimes ask the young person I see to sit directly across from their parent, so the young person looks directly at the parent, and more facial expressions and gestures are felt.
To help young people with oppositional defiance, a change at attitude is needed: from unwilling to unable (Barkley, 2000). A delay in social and emotional development and "black and white" thinking may underpin these behaviors.
Children exhibiting these behaviors need help learning frustration tolerance, self soothing, and impulse control. Assessment as to whether an mood disorder or impulse control disorder underlies their oppositional behavior may be beneficial, especially for those who are chronically stubborn, easily irritated, or frequently argumentative.
I incorporate active, authentic relating to develop the therapeutic relationship, with young people which is the key to success in therapy. This relationship allows for direct feedback and advice when needed. In family therapy, a combination of rewards and consequences can tailored to the root cause of the young person's behavior can be particularly powerful.
I encourage caregivers to be firm in implementing expectations and rules yet flexible enough to adapt to the most diverse conditions. For example, when serving a young person on the Autism Spectrum, I am direct in confronting inappropriate behavior yet guide them to adapt to the anxiety and irritability that often accompanies the Autism Spectrum. I am strengths-based and focus on internal factors contributing to progress, such as motivation. I implement Motivational Interviewing, which acknowledges and leverages person centered language contributing to desire to change.
There are many benefits to participating in therapy, such as
- getting what you really want in relationships with your kids and your partner
- enhanced ability to identify and express how you are feeling and what you want
- more considerate and respectful relationships
- peace and more ease at home
In family therapy, I guide the people I serve to translate complaints into achievable requests and to focus on what is wanted, rather than not wanted. I acknowledge each person's feelings and needs and encourage authenticity and eye contact. For example, I sometimes ask the young person I see to sit directly across from their parent, so the young person looks directly at the parent, and more facial expressions and gestures are felt.
To help young people with oppositional defiance, a change at attitude is needed: from unwilling to unable (Barkley, 2000). A delay in social and emotional development and "black and white" thinking may underpin these behaviors.
Children exhibiting these behaviors need help learning frustration tolerance, self soothing, and impulse control. Assessment as to whether an mood disorder or impulse control disorder underlies their oppositional behavior may be beneficial, especially for those who are chronically stubborn, easily irritated, or frequently argumentative.
I incorporate active, authentic relating to develop the therapeutic relationship, with young people which is the key to success in therapy. This relationship allows for direct feedback and advice when needed. In family therapy, a combination of rewards and consequences can tailored to the root cause of the young person's behavior can be particularly powerful.
I encourage caregivers to be firm in implementing expectations and rules yet flexible enough to adapt to the most diverse conditions. For example, when serving a young person on the Autism Spectrum, I am direct in confronting inappropriate behavior yet guide them to adapt to the anxiety and irritability that often accompanies the Autism Spectrum. I am strengths-based and focus on internal factors contributing to progress, such as motivation. I implement Motivational Interviewing, which acknowledges and leverages person centered language contributing to desire to change.
