MFT is part of the core mental health professions, but our training is also distinct from that of other mental health professionals in that it stems from systems theory, which takes a wide view approach to considering the context in which individual issues arise.

Individual therapy can help you examine the dynamics of all the relationships in your life, including family, intimate relationships, friendships, your place in society, and even the relationship with yourself. You might be seeking treatment for a specific mental health concern or other struggles you are facing individually, such as anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem, grief, or life transitions. MFTs draw from the tools of family systems theory, such as setting boundaries and promoting healthy communication of feelings to help you navigate all the relationships that make up your daily life.

Individual therapy focuses on your specific and personal goals, such as feeling better about yourself, breaking unhealthy patterns, feeling depressed or anxious, better functioning through stress and frustration, or finding purpose in your life. It’s often the case that exploring current issues can open doors to improving longer-standing patterns in your life.

Couples therapy can address a wide range of issues including recurring conflicts, disconnection, infidelity, and communication challenges. If you are having relationship difficulties and want to rebuild your relationship, or even if you just want to take preventative measures to protect your current relationship, you can seek couples therapy. Therapy will be most helpful if both partners are able to come with an open mind about the process and align on goals. We will work together to resolve issues, correct negative behavioral patterns, and focus on positive aspects of your relationship.

Identifying feelings: identify feelings and put them into words and expressions more easily understood by your partner.
Roles in the relationship: examine the roles you and your partner play in the relationship to identify unhealthy dynamics and address differences in expectations.
Beliefs and values: help you and your partner discuss your beliefs and values and the implications of these aspects on your daily lives.
Finances: help promote open dialogue and transparency around income and spending habits.
Time spent together: address issues that have been sabotaging your time together.
Children: communicate concerns regarding whether or not you want to have children or how you would like to raise them.
Familial relationships: work out issues stemming from conflicts with other family members, like parents, children, and siblings.
Sex and intimacy: share feelings and needs related to sex and intimacy or infidelity.
Health issues: work through the stress that physical or mental health issues can put on your relationship.
External stressors: deal with conflicts caused by external factors.

A family unit is simply a group of people who care about each other and share common goals. In family therapy, a group can consist of many different combinations of loved ones, such as parents/guardians and their children, siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends, caregivers, etc. Family therapy may also help treat certain mental health or behavioral conditions for one person within the family unit needing extra support. Families seek out therapy as a group for a variety of reasons, strained relationships, stress or anger, communication difficulties, trauma, chronic illness, grief, or coping with sudden changes.

It is essential for all family members who are participating to be actively involved in the therapy. Each member will have opportunities to share their concerns and hopes, clarify words and feelings, understand the impact of their words and behaviors, and strategize changes for problematic behaviors and patterns.

Adolescence is an intense stage of life. It is a time in which teens’ brains are still forming. And there are many external factors disrupting the mental health of today’s teens, including social media, constant stimulation, fear about world events, and pressurized relationships. It is important for teens to develop a strong sense of self-worth, enabling them to be kinder to themselves and grow in a deepening sense of self. Adolescent therapy is specifically designed to give teens a safe and supportive place to work through mental health challenges, learn healthy coping skills, build resilience, and set realistic goals.

Adolescent therapy is particularly impactful when family can be involved. As a parent or caretaker, you play a vital role in your teen’s mental wellbeing. While confidentiality demands that parents and caretakers respect their teen’s privacy during sessions, I also want you to feel welcome to “check in” on your teen’s mental health. Adolescents thrive when they are supported in multiple areas of their lives. If you have questions, feel free to reach out to schedule a meeting with the understanding that the success of therapy is contingent upon building trust with your teen and therefore, with few exceptions, I will be unable to divulge most information without your teen’s consent.

Play is a child’s language to help them express their feelings more easily through toys and activities than words and expressions. Not every child is able to process their own emotions or articulate problems to parents or other adults. Common communication gaps between children and adults, depending on age and development, mean that some children simply do not possess the language skills to identify their feelings and express them to trusted adults. At the same time, adults can misinterpret or completely miss the child’s verbal and nonverbal cues.

While it may look like an ordinary playtime, play therapy is so much more than that. Playtime can be an opportunity to observe and gain insights into a child’s concerns, explore and grow an emotional vocabulary, learn new coping skills, and redirect inappropriate behaviors. While some children might start off with some hesitation, as they become more comfortable and the therapeutic bond strengthens, the child is safe to become more creative or more verbal in their play.

Children learn to understand the world and their place in it through play. When a child cannot adequately express themselves in the adult world, the therapist joins the child in their world, on their level. Much can be learned in how a child interacts with different types of toys and how their behavior changes through sessions. They may use play to act out fears and anxieties, as a soothing mechanism, or to heal and problem solve.

Play therapy will differ depending on the specific needs of the child, which are assessed by observing the child at play, as well as interviews with the child, parents, or other prominent figures in the child’s life. Setting therapeutic goals and constructing a plan to proceed is generally a collaborative process to ensure that consistent messaging and expectations are incorporated into as many aspects of the child’s life as possible.

At some point, the therapist may bring parents, siblings, or other family members into play therapy. This is known as filial therapy. It can help teach conflict resolution, promote clear commmunication, and improve family dynamics.

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