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2 therapists available in Philadelphia
Everyone can use guidance from time to time. As a therapist with over 15 years of experience, I look forward to working with peopl...
About
Everyone can use guidance from time to time. As a therapist with over 15 years of experience, I look forward to working with people to overcome challenges, navigate issues, and engage in self-exploration.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor with 15 years of experience in inpatient, outpatient, and private practice settings. I specialize in depression, anxiety, addictions, low self-esteem, mood and personality disorders, and trauma. I work with adolescents, adults, and professionals, offering steady, practical support that helps you feel understood and move forward.
I earned a Master’s in Clinical Counseling and Health Psychology from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. My approach is trauma-informed and collaborative, drawing from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, motivational interviewing, and psychodynamic/psychoanalytic perspectives.
I believe therapy should be a clear path toward change. Together we’ll navigate challenges, clarify goals, and build skills so you can live the life you want. If you’re ready to tap your inner strength and create lasting progress, I’d be honored to work with you.
Education and training
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Joseph Walsh is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Pennsylvania and New York State who has over 9 years of experience wor...
Joseph Walsh is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in Pennsylvania and New York State who has over 9 years of experience working with adults and seniors who are seeking help in managing anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, life transitions, and identity issues, among other concerns. He believes that all clients have the potential to grow and to discover greater joy and confidence in their lives.
He earned his Master's degree in Social Work from CUNY-Hunter College and his approach can be described as holistic, strengths-based, and person-centered, drawing from a number of theoretical models including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and solutions-focused therapy (SFT). Believing that all individuals have unique strengths and lived experiences, Joseph works to validate and support those facing mental health concerns and life challenges.
Whether you have tried therapy before, or this is your first time, Joseph looks forward to connecting, hearing your story, and tackling your goals together. He believes that seeking help is a sign of courage and one of the most important ways to practice self-care. Sessions are always free of judgment and grounded in mutual trust.
You deserve dedicated time with a mental health professional — it can be life-changing.
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Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Victoria: My go to approach in Family therapy is to teach healthy communication skills and build empathy between family members.
Mark: When I engage families in family therapy, I access various modalities of care to address a family's specific needs. Some of the modalities of care that I access include structural family therapy, Gestalt Therapy, Attachment Focused Family Therapy, and others.
Victoria: The tools I teach in family therapy involve effective communication skills, such as “I” statements. In addition, I teach families how to understand each other's perspectives.
Mark: Some of the tools I introduce in family therapy include conflict resolution skills and communication skills.
Victoria: I know that a family is making progress in therapy when they begin to understand that they are on the same team. Also, I know that progress is being made when families practice empathy towards one another and use active listening skills.
Mark: I know a client is making progress when they are approaching their objectives.
Victoria: Clients can supplement their time in family therapy by spending quality time together at least once per week.
Mark: Family's can supplement family therapy with quality time spent with one another.
Victoria: To prepare for the first family therapy session, families can identify how they handle conflict with one another, and how much time they spend together. This information will help me determine the cohesiveness and communication styles within the family.
Mark: When starting therapy, client should familiarize themselves with their insurance plan to avoid surprise charges.
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 Philadelphia, PA 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 Philadelphia, PA 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.
When family members are working against each other instead of for each other, they may need someone outside of the system to help them regain equilibrium and establish healthy connection. Family counseling can help families name the specific problems they face and find a way forward that helps each member.
Thriveworks Philadelphia, PA offers family therapy because we understand that all families need help along the way. Family dysfunction and challenges are a normal part of life, but overcoming these problems and growing closer together is worth the time and effort. Reach out today for help.
The most common forms of family therapy are family systems therapy and family structural therapy. The foundational concept for these is that people’s behaviors and identities are formed within their family. Some people may love their families and emulate everything they learned from their family. Others may want nothing to do with their families and react against them. In either case, to understand an individual, one must understand their family context.
Family therapists may explore how a family copes with stress, defines roles, offers comfort, and sets expectations. These concepts give insight into how a family functions. To further understanding, family therapy may also explore birth order, love languages, and/or personality types and how these contribute to the challenges a family may face.
When individual family members understand how they relate to each other, then appropriate adjustments can be made. The goal is for every family member to contribute to the family system in a meaningful way and to receive from the family unit in a meaningful way.
When families know and respect each other’s gifts and needs, they may experience more interdependence, improved communication, and a more harmonious family life. When families grow stronger together, each individual may experience benefits such as…
If your family faces any of these particular circumstances, family therapy may be able to help you grow closer as you face the challenge together:
Family therapy is not a quick-fix for these or similar challenges. However, it can be a safe place to acknowledge problems and find solutions in a healthy way and with the guidance of a skilled therapist. If your family is ready to put in the work, Thriveworks Philadelphia is ready to help.
If family therapy is the right next step for your family, know that appointments are available at Thriveworks Philadelphia, PA. We know that getting the family together is a challenge, so we offer evening and weekend sessions. New clients often can meet with their counselor within the same week as scheduling. We also work with many forms of insurance.
All families experience dysfunction as some point. Family therapy may allow your family to grow closer through the challenges instead of farther apart. Call Thriveworks Philadelphia to get started today.
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