Family Counseling Services in St Louis Park, MN.

Our lives are impacted greatly by the health of our family relationships. It typically doesn't take long when working with a family for members to start demonstrating in session some of the issues that exist. We strive to search what issues lie beneath the behaviors. Breaking bad communication patterns is a common place to start. The focus is on solutions, not blame.

Family therapy is highly effective for depression, addictions, anxiety, unresolved grief, ADHD, coping with health problems, and parenting problems for all kinds of childhood and adolescent problems. My approach to family therapy involves helping a family to communicate and listen more effectively, better manage feelings, learn to better negotiate, effectively set limits, develop problem-solving skills, reduce stress as well as increase cohesion in your family. Family therapy often uses homework assignments to help the family practice the skills that are taught in the session. My approach is low key, supportive and focuses on practical things that family member can do resolve problems.

I have considerable experience working with families. I have worked with small children, tweens, teens and parents. I believe that a combination of individual and family therapy is an approach that works. We will work together to overcome the issues you and your family are going through. Understanding you’re not alone and getting support to help problem solve and learn communication skills is a step forward. We will take the time to move out of the chaos into a more authoritative environment. Authoritative is a blending of a caring tone with structure and consistent limit setting. Together we can make it work!

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 complicated. Sometimes those we love are the hardest to be around, often because of old hurts, personality differences, and poor communication. If you’re struggling with issues around family, I can help coach you through the challenges, teach you new strategies, and help you gain new insights. Whether you’re needing the accountability to set boundaries with difficult family members, or looking for new skills to heal relationships that are strained, I’m here to help. At Lion Counseling, our mission is to help you escape the cages that hold you back and become the lion God created you to be.

My specialized training in Marriage and Family therapy, with hundreds of hours of supervised relationship therapy, helps me see families as more than a collection of individuals. Frequently, families fail not simply due to character flaws or individual psychopathology, but because they don't see the effect they have on one another. Most families are made up of good people who nevertheless bring the worst out of each other. We will work to undo the negative family pattern and create new more effective ways of negotiating conflict and enriching each other.

You feel like an 'other'. You may find yourself grieving the parent or family you never had even though they may still be alive. There is a deep sadness in you. You feel alone. You desire meaningful connection but have been hurt so many times....perhaps you have faded back from contact but are not sure how to move forward in life. You are seeking guidance and support and yet, it may feel scary to feel vulnerable. I understand you may have never experienced a sense of safety to express yourself. I can help. I invite you to email me or even schedule and let's get started.

Family therapy is a unique experience to invite any or all family members to join at various times during the counseling process, as determined by the family and the therapist. Families work as a system -- what one person does affects the rest of the family, and vice versa. Family therapy allows an opportunity to come together to work on and understand the unique dynamics of your family. We have worked with parents and children, as well as adult married couples and in laws, blended families, and more.

I am a Licensed Associate Marriage and Family Therapist and have experience working with a wide variety of families. I am committed to providing a warm, respectful and impactful therapeutic experience for all the families I work with. I understand and appreciate that every family is different. We will all work together to create change that is beneficial for everyone involved.

As children we learn how relationships work from our families. Families have subtle and not-so-subtle rules about how to treat each other that get passed down from generation to generation. When these patterns result in hurt and misunderstanding, family therapy is an opportunity for change. If you're uncomfortable with how you feel in your family, or how you act with family members or loved ones, reflecting on the patterns you've learned and connecting with your emotions will help you choose how to relate, instead of being in reactive mode. I create a safe place where family members have the opportunity to learn to express needs and support each other in healthy ways.

Family therapy is needed when the family isn't working well. Maybe there are a lot of fights between parents and children or maybe one of the family members is using drugs or alcohol. Family therapy is a place where the whole family can talk about what is bothering them. Sometimes people want more closeness and sometimes family members want more distance. Family therapy is a great way to identify and sort out these issues.

There are many problems that can occur in our family relationships. it's very easy for conflict to occur in marriage, with children, family of origin, or even in-laws. As a therapist working with families for many years I've found that many problems can be solved through respectful communication of deeper feelings while developing greater understanding and appreciation of other family members. At the same time, there are some family situations with extremely difficult, defensive personalities that only create continued frustration, so that the best solution is to set clear boundaries for limiting the impact of such toxic personalities.

We work with families to help resolve conflict, smooth out relationships, and restore the family as a source of stability, peace, and caring. We help families heal from the impact of life transitions, relationship and parenting issues, substance abuse/addiction, mental health disorders, trauma, and grief and loss. We have therapists who are specifically trained and licensed to work with couples and families. We live in a connected world, and those connections are part of both our problems and our solutions. Our therapists are specialists who understand this whole-system approach. Visit our website at http://www.centerlifecounseling.com for more information or to contact us for scheduling.