Family Counseling Services in Los Alamitos, CA.

Most family therapists inadvertently create more chaos through their well-intentioned efforts to assist a family move through a change process. Why? Brains are inherently deregulated (all of us, may I add) and most talking and dialoguing misses brain-centric problems that need more intensive help. Many times the emotional trauma created by years of solving problems ineffectively can wreak havoc on the brain's parasympathetic nervous system, not ever giving the family a break from flight or fight thinking. Contact us for an innovative neuroscience solution to family dysfunction. Kevin@kevinflemingphd.com or 877-606-6161.

Families are the places where we should find the love and support to face the world and all its challenges. However, sometimes families loose their way due to poor communication and misunderstandings , anger, acting out behaviors, hurt feelings and lack of knowledge. Maya Angelou has said: "People do what they know; when they know better, they do better." My plan for families is to help them know better so they can do better. Where there is loving-kindness and a will to make change the future seems brighter.

My approach to treating families begins by understanding & observing how the family functions as a unit rather than focus on individual problems which arise when this is not occurring. Families face more challenges than ever before in this fast-paced world which praises achievement and success over unity. I am passionate about families and consider it a privilege to work alongside them.

In these challenging times, the support of a group can be a powerful tool in preventing and coping with many of the symptoms you or your child may be experiencing. Groups are offered via tele-therapy and facilitated by a therapist on a weekly or monthly schedule. Get the accountability you need to reach your goals and not slip into negative coping patterns.

Families can benefit from therapy as change is a constant and often may be difficult. Even if only one family member is struggling with a physical or mental health issue/ illness, the entire family is often directly affected. I have a great deal of experience in family therapy and can assist in unpacking the struggles that can lead to one of more members of the family experiencing depression, anxiety, & distancing. Often a family is impacted by significant struggles such as job security, household duties, child/adolescent changes, marital discord, etc., and can create struggles in communication. Life transitions can lead to problem areas; roles often change as well within the family system.

A family is a unit composed of several individuals, that form its dynamic, communication style, interaction, needs and desires, and sometimes these ‘clash’ or do not go hand in hand or in great harmony, to say the least! When working with families it is important to know that each person and each family is unique and has its own style, challenges and differences in character and personality. Our primary aim will be to explore, with each of you, as well as together, the concerns and challenges and guide you to create a more harmonious and balanced family relationships.

Sometimes family members just can't seem to get along. Parents and children may experience a heightened amount of conflict turning the teen years; one parent may be too enmeshed with the kids, leaving the other one out; brothers and sisters may fight; new families don't blend as expected. Whatever the issue, family counseling can surely help. I will meet you all and examine each persons ability to solve problems and express thoughts and emotions. Together, we will work towards identifying the family's strengths and weaknesses in effort to overcome unhealthy ways of relating to each other. We will work towards improving communication and resolving conflicts in effort to bring you closer.

Many times families need help to deal with struggles between them, or to get through difficult circumstances. Each relationship within a family is different from all others, and may need specific opportunities to express thoughts and feelings. Supportive and encouraging therapy may be just what is needed to remove blocks between family members so that the love can flow again. I often work with parent-adult child pairs or siblings, to clear up old misunderstandings, find ways to share more deeply, and strengthen family connections.

I work closely with families throughout my treatment to focus on understanding the family as a system and each member as having a unique role. Working together we can often uncover unmet needs and ways in which we can support one another towards our mutual goals. Further, by working with the family as a whole, we are able to acknowledge each of our role in the identified barrier and take ownership in our plan towards a solution.

Do you find yourself overwhelmed and frustrated with your daily family routines? Do conversations often lead to arguments and hurt feelings? Would you like a more enjoyable fun-loving family relationship? If so, I can help. I provide support with managing daily challenges & helping you reach family goals. I believe in a systemic approach, so sessions can include you, your child, your spouse or any combination of family members. During sessions we can address specific issues like: staying calm during disagreements or tantrums, establishing routines, decreasing arguments & improving communication. We can also work on broader goals like bringing more fun & cohesiveness to your family unit.

I offer family therapy for teens, parents, and siblings struggling with issues together. I help families explore their unconscious patterns that are causing conflict and bring them to the surface to be examined together as a team. I encourage family members to say what needs to be said in a safe and honest forum to resolve conflict. My style is directive, straightforward, and compassionate.

I offer family therapy for families who have young children and/or adolescents. This is a speciality! I have three therapists who have different specialtes with family therapy! One is a teen and teen parenting specialists, another specializes in families with young children and another specializes in difficult families, families and trauma and another still with single parent families or blended families (families coming together with other families). I specifically work with families and parents of teens and alterative families (gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender families - either parents are GLBT or families who have a GLBT child). Call me and one of us will be the perfect match!

Families engaging in therapy with me will find a compassionate and strong leader who understands the profound stress that family conflicts and perpetual problems can create. My approach is centered on guiding families through their tensions and difficulties, providing a structured and supportive environment where each member feels heard and valued. By focusing on your family's unique dynamics and challenges, I facilitate open communication and collaboration, leading to practical and lasting solutions. Clients will leave with a renewed sense of connection and the tools to foster a more harmonious family life, turning seemingly insurmountable problems into opportunities for growth.

I use a family systems approach in my therapy, so having family members in the room, in my opinion, is the most efficient route towards healing and growth in individuals. I encourage clients to address relationships that are causing distress in their lives and work towards healthy differentiation of self. This can be done in individual therapy as well, but is more effective when all members of the relationship are present.

In working with families, we will collaborate on addressing the couple's need to be in charge. Family rules and boundaries are sometimes unclear to children. We will work together to communicate your expectations. When acting out, underachievement, conduct problems, defiant or oppositional behaviors present in the children, the the parents need to be on the same page. Your family will learn, insession, preferred communicatin styles; empathic listening, group problem solving skills, tolerance, respect and acceptance of each other. Family members will learn to interact without anger, resentment, sarcasm or disrespect. Parents need to be authoritative without being authoritarian.

When I work with families, a large focus of the work is learning to communicate with each other. It is also learning to hold space for one another and heal attachment wounds. My space is nonblaming and nonjudgemental. I am always aware of the power dynamics in the room. When I work with minors, I like to involve family members. That can be a caregiver or other family members.

We all begin life and grow up as part of a family that may be composed of blood relatives or adopted parents or a foster family. This family, regardless of how it's composed, will influence our lives in major and significant ways by conditioning how we experience the world. How we internalize what we see, hear, and feel in the world is profoundly influenced by and formed within our family of origin. We also learn how to interact with others, including how we experience love or the lack thereof. My approach to Family Therapy is filled w/ compassion and understanding. As a husband and dad of 3 kids, I have experienced my own joys & sorrows, which allows me to empathically attune to my clients.

Although most therapists in California have a license in Marriage and Family Counseling, most of those therapists don’t actually do family counseling. Because we have over 25 therapists at the La Vie Counseling Center we have a wide range of specialties, and one of them is family counseling. We have therapists who are equipped to work with your entire family to open lines of communication, set better boundaries and restructure relationships that have needed change for years. If your family needs help, give us a call and one of our family therapists will start the process of change that is long overdue.

Family relationships can be stressful and challenging. There may be anger, arguments, grief & loss, mental or physical illness, unresolved trauma, abuse, neglect, betrayal, financial or occupational challenges that create distress in the family system. Healthy family members have open, honest and compassionate communication. They hear, know and understand each other. They take responsibility and are accountable for their impact on each other. They show love and care through affection, attention, appreciation, being of service, spending quality time with and being there for each other. I guide you in developing the skills, qualities and habits needed to get your family to a better place!

Family Therapy is essential when a family is unbalanced and in need of guidance on how to become a family unit with a healthier structure. Working with a therapist you will be able to validate each family members desires, discuss family goals and improve communication skills to continue using even after therapy ends. Family therapy is not only essential to the family unit but for each individual to be able to feel important and included in family decisions.

Everyone has a family, even if no two families are identical. Family may mean different things to different people, but there is no denying that the relationships we have shape us as individuals. Some families have healthy traits and some have more toxic traits. In my family work, I aim to help to uncover systems both that are working, and systems that are not working. I also aim to help each member of the family feel heard in asking for their own needs and boundaries to be met, appropriate within the family and cultural context.

My approach in family therapy includes clarifying boundaries, strengthening parental leadership, enhancing coping skills and freeing family members from their entrenched defensive positions within the family structure. I also bring expertise in working with foster and adoptive families. I provide counseling for pre-adoptive and post-adoptive families, adoptive and birth parents, and children in attachment issues, developmental support, and healthy parenting.

There are many ways to work with families and couples. A very straightforward approach involved learning and applying new ways of communicating. One such approach was initially called Non-Violent Communication and has since been termed compassionate communication. In this approach clients are supporter in communicating and understanding each other's needs. Another approach that I often draw upon is called Structural Family Systems. It really depends on the needs of each couple or family. Based upon those needs I work to develop individualized approaches to help them achieve their goals.

My approach in family therapy is to focus on the problem or set of problems, not to assign blame to a person or the family as a whole. In family therapy, we will hear how problems affect everyone. There is not always a "solution," but more often than not there are untapped resources that a family can call upon to help reduce a problem's influence on each person's life.

When one member is struggling, the whole family hurts. Grief, loss, unprocessed / unhealed past traumas, ineffective coping skills, and/or a history of family "drama" can create a painful dynamic. Family Therapy helps each person get to the underlying issues, communicate, establish healthy boundaries, bond / attach, and learn how to thrive through the inevitable (and normal) dark and stormy seasons together. You can learn more about us at www.HealPlayLove.org