Discover how starting family therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
2 therapists available in Cary
I have been privileged to have walked with people in the most difficult times in their lives for the last 14 years....
About
I have been privileged to have walked with people in the most difficult times in their lives for the last 14 years.
Sarah Olson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 15 years of experience helping infants, toddlers, children, teens, and adults who are faced with anxiety, depression, anger, poor coping skills, and family conflict issues.
Sarah received her Master's degree in Social Work from Florida Atlantic University and is classically trained at the Master’s level in cognitive behavior therapy and solutions-focused therapy. She helps clients to explore behavior patterns that may have been caused by past events. Sarah believes that being honest about how you feel is the most effective way to move forward in getting to where you want to go in life.
Sarah likes to think that speaking with her is like speaking with a best friend that is able to really hear what you are experiencing. Expect every moment we are interacting to be all about you. Nothing is more important to her than making you feel truly heard.
If you are ready to explore what things need to change in your life to reach your picture of peace and happiness, Sarah is ready to speak with you. You deserve the life you want!
Education and training
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I am a Licensed Social Worker who primarily sees older adolescents and adults....
I am a Licensed Social Worker who primarily sees older adolescents and adults.
Ali-Marie is a Licensed Social Worker (LSW) with many years of experience. She primarily sees older adolescents and adults for individual therapy but will also address relationship and family issues, stress, anxiety, depression, women's issues, and much more.
Ali-Marie completed her Master's degree in Social Work at the University of Maryland. She also has an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Criminology from George Mason University. Ali-Marie offers a person-centered (PCT) approach and strives to ensure clients feel comfortable, supported, and validated.
Ali-Marie is here to support you and improve your quality of life. She works collaboratively with clients—start sessions with Ali-Marie today.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
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My standard approach to family therapy is structural family therapy. I find this approach to be most helpful for the majority of people seeking family therapy because it helps break down patterns in the family system, process the emotions of family members, and improve communication and understanding between family members.
In structural family therapy, we will learn the following skills:
I know a client and the client's family are making meaningful progress when they are able to identify their own problematic patterns rather than just each other's, hold space for the perspective of others, and work to create an environment that is emotionally safe and supportive.
For family therapy clients looking to further their progress outside of sessions, I would encourage them to engage in material related to learning how to emotionally validate one another and utilize active listening skills in this process. These are essential communication tools that help create a good foundation for support and growth.
In preparation for family therapy, an individual can work to understand their primary goal in seeking family therapy services. It's okay if everyone doesn't have the same goal or they aren't starting at the same levels of readiness for change.
Family therapy helps families resolve conflicts and strengthen their relationships. It is led by qualified mental health professionals like psychologists, licensed professional counselors (LPCs), and licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs) who have extensive training in family dynamics and group communication.
Thriveworks family therapists in Cary, NC usually begin by asking what everyone’s goals are for family counseling. Family members may need help with very specific issues or with general relationship functioning. But there are three main purposes in family counseling: to educate, to counsel, and to strengthen. Thriveworks also offers online family therapy and in-person services, so you may all meet in an office together or join a video call from your home depending on everyone’s location and availability.
The most effective form of Family therapy will often depend on the family itself, as there are many types of family therapy for therapists to use as they see fit in order to best meet the needs of their clients. However, one of the most commonly used types of family therapy is structural family therapy (SFT). SFT focuses specifically on family dynamics and interactions, looking at how they shape the relationships and structure present in the family. It can be effectively used to treat a variety of concerns.
This answer often looks different to each family that starts family therapy. However, some signs that your family might need to consider family counseling include frequent fights or misunderstandings, constant tension, experiencing loss, behavioral issues, marital issues, divorce, and blended family issues, among others.
In family therapy, therapists will often start by asking questions and assessing individual and family dynamics. From there, they may employ therapeutic techniques such as structured family therapy, CBT, strategic family therapy, and more depending on the present concerns and conflicts. From there, a therapist will work to open lines of communication between family members and facilitate emotional healing and growth.
Family therapy can be incredibly successful, with some studies reporting a success rate of almost 90% for improving participants’ emotional and mental health, and around 66% for improving their physical health.
Thriveworks therapists in Cary, NC offer both online family therapy and in-person family therapy. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
Family therapy is usually short term and solution-focused, with most families accomplishing their goals in 12 sessions or fewer. However, it can also last for longer if the probles at hand are more complex — and that’s okay, too.
Thriveworks Counseling in Cary is proud to offer family therapy and counseling. This form of therapy can prove crucial to the health and happiness of our relationships with family members. If you and your family are going through a tough season and need some help navigating your challenges, consider reaching out to our office. You can easily schedule an appointment by calling our office and speaking to one of our scheduling specialists.
Many families can benefit from working with a therapist, including those who are struggling to get along or reconcile their differences, as well as those who simply want to improve the strength of their relationships. Regardless of the specifics, family therapy can help you and your loved ones work through stressful, painful, or otherwise difficult situations. Here is a more comprehensive list of the topics that are commonly discussed in family therapy:
The above are all common obstacles that can lead to strain in your relationships with your parents, siblings, children, and other family members. Fortunately, the family therapists at Thriveworks Counseling in Cary are fully equipped to help you work through these and other challenges.
Here at Thriveworks Counseling in Cary, our therapists and counselors provide their clients with personalized care. When it comes to family therapy, your therapist will get to know you and your family; then, they will design a plan that will best help you and your family members resolve your problems and improve your relationships. Often, families can do so in an average of 9 sessions. Sometimes, though it takes a little longer to make this kind of progress, and that’s okay too!
Many families benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy techniques as well as psychodynamic therapy techniques. That said, as we mentioned earlier, your family therapist will get to know you and your family’s needs and then they will determine what therapy techniques will best help you. Know that your family therapist will always have your best interest in mind.
We know just how stressful and painful it can be to fight with your loved ones. We also know that simply wanting to repair a relationship doesn’t lead to resolution. The good news is that our family therapists can help you navigate these difficult conversations with your family members and, in turn, improve your relationships. They can also equip you with tools for working through future conflicts effectively.
If you think that you and your family could benefit from family therapy services, reach out to us today. We will get you scheduled for an appointment with your family therapist right away. Here are several benefits that you can look forward to at Thriveworks:
Do these benefits interest you? Call our office to schedule your first family therapy session and experience them for yourself!
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
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