Our therapists provide family therapy in Houston, TX

Alejandra: My go-to approach for helping people in family therapy is an eclectic approach. I find the best benefit in an eclectic approach is the flexibility it provides me to adjust to each family’s needs. Each family unit has its own set of roles, values system, experiences, and traditions. I pull tools from Cognitive Behavioral, Structural, Emotionally Focused, Collaborative, Psychoeducation, Positive Psychology, and Solution Focused therapies to help families achieve their goals.

Victoria: My go-to approach for helping people in family therapy is motivational interviewing. I find the best benefit in meeting one on one periodically because I feel sometimes you do not get the most honest answer for fear of what others might think or say.

Alejandra: I teach the following tools in family therapy:

• Emotion regulation and distress tolerance via mindfulness practice, videos, and worksheets. I work with families to attune to each other physically, emotionally and mentally so they can build insight and confidence in being able to navigate conflicts or disagreements.
• Self-care tools to reinforce emotion regulation skills
• Cognitive challenging/reframing/refocusing via the use of cognitive triangles and understanding unhelpful thinking patterns. I encourage families to use worksheets/ handouts to practice their skills daily, and build new habits
• Exploration of individual roles within the family, and exploration of values (especially with blended families)
• Healthy communication skills to create positive/supportive relationships, advocate for needs, and build conflict management skills
• Healthy boundary setting skills that fit within the client’s personal values and family system (work on compromising skills)
• Positive affirmation and appreciation skills
• How to repair effectively after an argument or conflict

Victoria: I teach the following tools in family therapy:

• How to recognize and sustain Healthy Relationships
• Recognizing signs of anxiety and depression
• How to support each other during anxious/depressed moods
• How to recognize triggers of anxious/depressed moods

Alejandra: I know a family is making meaningful progress in therapy when they can actively listen to one another, and validate each other’s emotions. These skill sets can help a family to navigate when there is a difference of opinion, or other types of conflict. A family can also make meaningful progress by demonstrating vulnerability, openness, and/or self-awareness. Each person in the family unit is unique, brings their own sense of individuality, and plays a role in the family. The more each person is aware of their role in the family system, and how it impacts others, the more progress the family can make.

Victoria: I know a client is making meaningful progress in family therapy when they are able to identify times they recognized their dysfunctional behaviors and thought patterns and changed their responses to those triggering situations.

Alejandra: Clients can supplement their time in family therapy with daily skills practice, readings or reflections. I try to make a habit of giving my clients small, manageable tasks to practice each day. I spend time with my clients to build these tasks into their current habits or routines to help establish a new pattern/ healthy habit.

Victoria: Clients can supplement their time in family therapy with journaling their thoughts and feelings and having open discussions with each other about recognizing dysfunctional patterns in their family relationship.

Alejandra: A first family therapy session can come with so many different emotions. In a first session, I will typically meet with the family as a whole group for the first few minutes and ask about the last few weeks. After that, I take time to meet with each member individually to get individual perspectives and get to know them/understand how they view the world and others around them. It’s important to share as much information as honestly as possible, but my first priority will always be my client’s safety and comfort level. If I ask a tough question, I don’t expect anyone to share every detail- just what they are willing and able to. I encourage my clients to always ask me questions in return because I want my clients to get to know me and feel safe/comfortable. Therapy is most effective when each person can connect with their therapist. You can prepare for therapy further by thinking about your top goal, or what it is that you hope to gain from therapy. This helps me to create a more effective approach that fits the family’s needs.

Victoria: To prepare for their first family therapy session, an individual can prepare a list of problems/concerns they want addressed. Also bring a list of medications and other medical issues they may be dealing with as well.