What is family therapy and support?

Sometimes the best way to support an individual client is to include the people who are part of their everyday life.

Family therapy and caregiver support may be incorporated into individual treatment when clinically appropriate. These services are designed to strengthen communication, increase understanding, develop practical strategies, and help families support the goals the client is working toward in individual therapy.

For children and adolescents especially, parents and caregivers can be an important part of creating lasting change outside the therapy session.

When might family involvement be helpful?

Family involvement may be beneficial when concerns involve communication, emotional or behavioral challenges, changes within the family, school difficulties, parenting concerns, conflict, trauma, or when caregivers would benefit from additional tools for supporting the client at home.

Family involvement does not mean that someone is being blamed for the concerns that brought a client to counseling. Instead, it provides an opportunity for everyone involved to better understand the client's needs and work toward practical solutions together.

How is family involvement determined?

The type and frequency of family involvement are determined collaboratively between the therapist and client during the mental health assessment and ongoing treatment planning.

Depending on the client's age, needs, treatment goals, confidentiality considerations, and clinical recommendations, family involvement may include parent or caregiver consultations, family sessions, education, skill-building, or other forms of support.

At Riverbase Counseling, the goal is to involve family members in ways that strengthen—not replace—the individual client's therapeutic work.