Traditional Family Therapy

Traditional Family Therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on the family as the “patient”. Usually, the whole family comes to each appointment. Each family member works on their contribution to the problems that the family is working on. The theory behind this approach considers each member of the family to have a role, whether healthy or not, in how the family functions; therefore when there are problems in the family, each member is considered to have contributed in some way. A good family therapist helps each member of the family to focus on their own contribution. Many LCSWs have training in family therapy.

I don’t usually do Traditional Family Therapy as described above. My focus is usually on a particular individual in the family who has come into work on their problems, and in the course of helping them, I bring the whole family in to work on aspects of the family functioning in Family Therapy.