Family Systems

The early years in which we are developing physically and emotionally are some of the most important years of our life. Because we usually spend this time with our families, family systems have a big effect on our future lives. Family systems work can happen with individual people processing their family of origin, with people in relationships with different family histories which are influencing their present actions, and with families who come to therapy together.

Through advanced training in Family Systems Theory, we explore your family of origin to examine long held beliefs and behaviors that have structured how we form relationships with ourselves and others. Assessing Adverse Childhood Events gives us insight into the psychological and sometimes physical ailments that can derail us in creating healthful well-being. So, “Tell me about your childhood” isn’t just a Freudian cliche, it helps identify those maladaptive beliefs that no longer serve us.

No matter where we come from, all family systems are complex. Our original families play a big part in our current families. Or maybe we are having a hard time creating the partnership or family we want now because of what we have been through in life. Exploring the historical components that impact our relationships is key to increasing our healthy functioning.

Family systems therapy is a great way to improve how your family interacts and supports each other. By looking at how everyone fits together, it helps spot patterns that might be causing tension or conflict. This approach not only helps with individual issues but also boosts overall family communication and connection. In the end, it can lead to a happier, more harmonious family life.

Everybody had or has some form of family, whether you born into it, choose it, or found yourself in a situation with others that essentially represented a family. I use the Systems approach to change the perception of who you are and why you do the things you do by looking at how you were shaped and influenced by the people in your lives as you developed. We were all set up to think and believe and act the ways that we do because of those around us as we developed.

Even if you are coming for individual or couples therapy, I believe that it is important to understand how your upbringing and family environment affects you now. My belief is that we can understand and, therefore, change the present moment when we understand its connection to our past beliefs and habits.

I am trained in family systems (Bowenian) approaches to therapy. By examining the patterns within the family and across generations, we can bring insight into behaviors that may be holding us back. This approach is especially useful in communities of color given our desire to maintain strong multi-generational kinship networks.

I am also trained in Family Systems and use this approach to help clients deal with family issues/concerns by helping them understand their roles in their families and learn how these roles affect the way they treat each other and experience the outside world.

My approach to therapy is warm, non-judgmental, collaborative, and conversational. The theoretical orientations I generally work from include family systems, structural and symbolic experiential. Furthermore, I often incorporate additional concepts and approaches to best meet the needs of my clients. I use multiple modalities of counseling, teaching, learning, and healing and incorporate various psycho-social-educational models within a culture and gender-sensitive framework.

Family systems was foundational in my master's program of couple and family therapy. I use this lens in sessions to further expand the view and experience of each individual, knowing that their current and past family experiences has informed their development.

When dysfunction and chaos characterize the atmosphere in the home everyone suffers. Children feel it is their fault the family is out of control and often try to meet their needs on their own, while other family members are preoccupied. Creating a safe space for our family and learning tools to set boundaries gives family members time to reduce their stress and tension. Therapy offers an opportunity to relearn and unlearn ways of relating that no longer serve us.

We all grew up with our family's influence. It's important to be able to discuss how this related to your current way of thinking and behaving

There are many different parts of you that protect you, that manage internal crises, and carry the emotional damage of our past traumas. I work with you to understand your full self, create an appreciation for yourself, and work to give yourself permission to be your true self.

I received specific training in understanding how each member can impact a family system and have worked on balancing out a system in the best interest of each family member.

We are all embedded in various systems--from our family of origin, to our current relationships, to schools, society and more. Understanding the weblike nature of our existence is crucial to addressing individual suffering and aspirations. Cybernetics, systems theory, offers an invaluable way of helping to change/heal.

I've worked with families for the past 11 years and have experience with foster/adoptive, racial minority and LGBTQ families, adult children and families experiencing major life transitions.

We all come from somewhere. I'm here to help you learn more about where you came from, so you can be informed about ways to overcome your present and future challenges. Many of our current challenges, insecurities and negative beliefs about ourselves elf, come from growing up. Using a person centered and family systems based approach, I'd love to help provide you with tools and insights for you to continue to grow into the most authentic version of you.

My degree from LIOS/Saybrook University includes a focus in Systems Therapy. The Family Systems we are exposed to during our development informs how we look at the world, our sense of ourselves, and how the two interact. Our Family System especially informs our behavior, and learning more about how that works, and how to change our interactions with and perspectives on our family unit helps lead to change in our own behavior.

Whenever I work with a child or teen, I work with the parents as well. Parenting is so hard and we can all use a little support on learning new ways to support our kids and ensure we have strong connections with them.