A unique, customized approach to family therapy can help both adults and children develop boundaries that allow them to establish a sense of privacy, while still engaging members to improve communication skills. An experienced therapist encourages family members to define individual roles and at the same time strengthens the interpersonal dynamics that bring family members closer together.
One of the keys to establishing a customized approach to family therapy involves addressing the dysfunctional issues that prevent the growth of strong interpersonal bonds. For example, addressing what seems to be a relatively small difference in expectations can lead to the discovery of new ways to cope with the differences. Customizing a family therapy strategy also allows family members to implement new and much more innovative ways to solve interpersonal problems.
Research data collected from a 2019 study indicates that a unique approach to family therapy is highly effective at helping children cope with the relationship issues they have with adults. Although not considered a part of a child therapy program, a customized family therapy approach can help children address and change childhood conduct disorders while simultaneously preventing the development of substance abuse issues. Underlying a customized approach to family therapy is ensuring children do not have to endure inconsistent messaging from parents, as well as have difficulty expressing normal emotions.
Customizing Family Therapy
Customizing family therapy can involve taking several different steps. You and your family can receive advice and encouragement online or in-person, or a combination of both approaches to better mental health. Functional family therapy focuses on helping a child deal with complicated emotional and behavioral problems under the guidance of at least one adult family member. Transgenerational therapy examines the relationships developed between parents and children at any stage of the aging process. Multisystemic therapy targets specific childhood behaviors, especially the behaviors that limit the emotional growth of highly vulnerable adolescents. Structural family therapy techniques concentrate on rebuilding the dynamics that form a solid family structure.
The Bottom Line
Family therapy works towards the goal of restoring a balanced relationship between family members across more than one generation. For family therapy to work, family members must participate with an open mind to minimize stress and negative emotions, as a therapist works to develop a customized approach to rebuilding relationships. Customizing family therapy benefits family members because a unique approach takes into account issues that only the family participating in therapy have experienced.