| Marriage and Family Therapists of New York |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Families experience
many different
issues at different
periods of the life
cycle. There are
times when talking
through your
problems with an
experienced
therapist can help.
many different
issues at different
periods of the life
cycle. There are
times when talking
through your
problems with an
experienced
therapist can help.
 | Balancing Discipline and Love | |
| Providing Structure and Maintaining | |
| Boundaries | ||
| School Related Issues (Grades Falling, | |
| Bullying, Self Esteem, etc) | ||
| Temper Tantrums for all Ages | |
| Arguing, Fighting, etc. | |
| Adolescent Attitude Issues | |
If a person with a family problem went to an individually
focused mental health professional, the therapist would
focus on that individual. Depending upon which school of
therapy the therapist studied, s/he may look for pathology
and symptoms in an attempt to diagnose the person or
possibly focus on the reinforcers and punishers in a
person's life that would serve to maintain the symptomatic
or dysfunctional behavior.
focused mental health professional, the therapist would
focus on that individual. Depending upon which school of
therapy the therapist studied, s/he may look for pathology
and symptoms in an attempt to diagnose the person or
possibly focus on the reinforcers and punishers in a
person's life that would serve to maintain the symptomatic
or dysfunctional behavior.
Family Therapy
| What is Family Therapy? |
Families experience many different issues at different
periods of the family life cycle. When a couple has a
new baby, they must realign themselves to take on the
role of parents. This could be a very confusing and
exhausting time for them.
During the elementary school years, parents continue
to be involved and focused on their children, driving
children to dance, soccer etc.,
During the adolescent years, parents are still focused
on their children and whole host of other issues may
arise. The risk during this time period is that they may
lose the couple part of their relationship. The
necessity of taking care of the children could create a
situation where the couple in the marriage is
neglected. When this occurs, certain family issues
may arise.
Our approach is to assist in the improvement of the
quality of family life through nurturing, supportive
therapy.
periods of the family life cycle. When a couple has a
new baby, they must realign themselves to take on the
role of parents. This could be a very confusing and
exhausting time for them.
During the elementary school years, parents continue
to be involved and focused on their children, driving
children to dance, soccer etc.,
During the adolescent years, parents are still focused
on their children and whole host of other issues may
arise. The risk during this time period is that they may
lose the couple part of their relationship. The
necessity of taking care of the children could create a
situation where the couple in the marriage is
neglected. When this occurs, certain family issues
may arise.
Our approach is to assist in the improvement of the
quality of family life through nurturing, supportive
therapy.
| Common issues are: |
Single parent household issues, step- families,
children, adolescent problems, adults experiencing a
divorce, school related problems are but a few of the
family related problems treated at MFT NY.
Does the entire family go for therapy each week?
This depends on the family situation and the
therapist. For example, some family therapists see
only the entire family. They do this every week. Other
family therapists may want to see the couple one
week, then all the children the next week, then the
couple again the following week. They might want to
see all the females in the family one week and all the
males the following week. Depending on how the
family therapist has assessed the family situation, the
therapist may want to see different sub-systems
within the family or the entire family each week.
children, adolescent problems, adults experiencing a
divorce, school related problems are but a few of the
family related problems treated at MFT NY.
Does the entire family go for therapy each week?
This depends on the family situation and the
therapist. For example, some family therapists see
only the entire family. They do this every week. Other
family therapists may want to see the couple one
week, then all the children the next week, then the
couple again the following week. They might want to
see all the females in the family one week and all the
males the following week. Depending on how the
family therapist has assessed the family situation, the
therapist may want to see different sub-systems
within the family or the entire family each week.
Family Therapy looks at the family as a whole --not on the
individual elements of the whole. Family Therapists are
trained to observe the interactional patterns of the family.
They will look at the structure of the family. How is the family
organized?
individual elements of the whole. Family Therapists are
trained to observe the interactional patterns of the family.
They will look at the structure of the family. How is the family
organized?
| This is not Family Therapy |
| Office Location 542 Lakeview Avenue Rockville Centre N.Y. 11570 516-764-2526 |
"It felt like our family was falling apart. I was fighting all
the time with my husband; the children's grades were
falling and they were very disrespectful to us. At MFT
NY we learned how to recognize and fix our
dysfunctional patterns and have been getting along
much better since." Debra A.
the time with my husband; the children's grades were
falling and they were very disrespectful to us. At MFT
NY we learned how to recognize and fix our
dysfunctional patterns and have been getting along
much better since." Debra A.
Family therapists will
look at the boundaries
in a family.
Boundaries are
artificial lines that
indicate limits in a
family.
look at the boundaries
in a family.
Boundaries are
artificial lines that
indicate limits in a
family.
Family therapists also look at communication patterns and
stability and change. How stable is the family in terms of life
cycle transitions? How do they handle change?
As you can see, there are big differences between going to
a therapist trained in the individual view and a family
therapist.
stability and change. How stable is the family in terms of life
cycle transitions? How do they handle change?
As you can see, there are big differences between going to
a therapist trained in the individual view and a family
therapist.
What are the roles of the family? Roles are functions
performed by someone in a familiar situation. Roles are
expressed through interaction with other family
members. Similar to rules, roles can healthy or
unhealthy. They can facilitate family functioning or
hinder it.
Family therapists will look at the rituals in the family.
These are the customs that help to establish a family
identity and continue the family customs.
What is the hierarchy of a family? This is an important
focus of the family therapist. Hierarchies are the ordered
subsystems within a family. These are defined by tasks
and functions. For example, parents usually are at the
top of the hierarchy and hold most of the responsibility
for family members' well being.
performed by someone in a familiar situation. Roles are
expressed through interaction with other family
members. Similar to rules, roles can healthy or
unhealthy. They can facilitate family functioning or
hinder it.
Family therapists will look at the rituals in the family.
These are the customs that help to establish a family
identity and continue the family customs.
What is the hierarchy of a family? This is an important
focus of the family therapist. Hierarchies are the ordered
subsystems within a family. These are defined by tasks
and functions. For example, parents usually are at the
top of the hierarchy and hold most of the responsibility
for family members' well being.
What are the rules in
the family? Rules are
the stated and unstated
guidelines for the way a
family will function.
These become
established through
repetition.
the family? Rules are
the stated and unstated
guidelines for the way a
family will function.
These become
established through
repetition.
© 2007 Family Counseling Site By: Joan D. Atwood
To schedule an appointment call or
E-Mail us at jatwood@optonline.net
E-Mail us at jatwood@optonline.net
|
| Step-Families |
| Suggested References |
| 516-764-2526 |
| Parenting |
