When your child is struggling with their mental health, it often affects more than them alone. If your teen is struggling and your family needs help, reach out to the mental health experts at Imagine Boise by calling 888.597.2807. Our family therapy program is designed to help both you and your child resolve the hurts of the past and build stronger relationships for the future.
What Is a Family Psychologist?
Trying to help a teenager who is struggling with a mental health disorder can be distressing for the entire family. Conflict and division that was never present before may arise and cause significant turmoil.
A family psychologist for adolescents is a specialized mental health provider who specifically focuses on healing family relationships. Meeting with a family psychologist can help to heal the wounds caused by mental health concerns and let families work together toward recovery.
Family psychologists work to identify and resolve conflict and communication barriers through several different techniques and therapies.
In addition, a family psychologist can be a valuable resource for parents who don’t know how to help children experiencing mental health symptoms. Certain words and behaviors can exacerbate a child’s mental health concerns — even if they are only used in an attempt to help.
A family psychologist can help show parents how their behavior influences their children and provide valuable insight into how they can help their children in overcoming their challenges.
Family Psychologist for Family Counseling
Family counseling, also known as family therapy, is the primary tool for a family psychologist to help accomplish their treatment goals. When you meet with a psychologist for family counseling, the whole family gets a space to talk openly about their struggles, resentments, and needs.
The family psychologist guides the conversation and provides clinical insight, but the healing takes place among the family members themselves. Family counseling can help all members of a family:
- Learn healthy boundaries
- Develop problem-solving skills
- Practice healthy coping mechanisms
- Improve communication in the family unit
- Uncover family dynamics
- Address and resolve dysfunctional behaviors
Of course, family counseling takes time and effort, both on the part of your teen and yourself as a parent. When you attend family counseling, try to do so with an open mind, a compassionate heart, and a willingness to learn.
Finding a Family Psychologist for Teens
A family psychologist plays a unique role within the mental health treatment space. They serve as counselors to both parent and child and are the leader of family counseling sessions. As such, it is vital that you find a family psychologist for teens with whom everyone is comfortable.
The best indicator for treatment success is finding a family psychologist that everyone feels has their best interests at heart. This is known as the therapeutic alliance: feeling that your therapist is on your side, even when they are suggesting that certain behaviors need to be changed.
Your family psychologist collaborates with the entire family unit and can create immense positive change so long as everyone feels safe and understood within the session.
Meet a Psychologist for Adolescents at Imagine Boise
At Imagine Boise, we understand the vital need for families to heal when an adolescent is dealing with mental illness. Our compassionate team of mental health professionals is dedicated to making this healing a reality and can help your teenager overcome their symptoms and learn to thrive.
To get started with family counseling, reach out to our team by calling 888.597.2807 or filling out our online contact form. One of our mental health professionals would be happy to speak to you about our wide range of treatment options and get your family back on track for success.