Family Counseling Services in Woolwich, NJ.

Families come in all forms especially in our changing times. The stresses of life show up in our families lives. Families change over time. Dealing with young children is different than a family with teenagers or no children at all. We need to negotiate these changes in our families. At REACH Counseling we believe in the strength of families and helping families to communicate and connect at a deeper level. We specialize in exploring what intergenerational patterns are affecting your family, how you may be dealing with transitions and how you can make your family strong.

Families have many challenges in these times. I have experience with issues ranging from divorce, to medical illnesses, to traumatic family experiences. I have years of experience as an adolescent therapist, on an inpatient and an outpatient level. I have specific experience with the family dynamics of aging and dementia. This can be a challenging issue, but with the right strategies you can succeed.

Families are under tremendous pressure to function well together without having the skills to do that. I work with the family to develop skills in listening, appreciation, working more effectively as a team.In our current over-scheduled, over-pressured world, families are confronting problems they have little capacity to do anything about. We can tend to cope by getting stuck in a narrow range of behaviors and responses even if they are not helpful. A child who has learned to have temper tantrums when she is angry, and her parents who have learned to punish or pamper her, are stuck in maladaptive, non-growthful environments—‘a bad play’. It’s like playing the same part in the same play on the....

Family Therapy can be an incredible modality in shifting an entire family from unhealthy dynamics and unhappiness to peace and healthy relationships. Since my primary specialty is Addiction, I see many families with this obstacle. The solution often is not only that the addict needs to change but the entire family system. My passion is working with families and seeing this beautiful transformation come from such despair.

One of the most common forms of Family Therapy is Structural Family Therapy. This modality focuses on examining how our family of origin, influences our relationships and engagement. This includes biological, adoptive and families of choice. The Eco-Systemic Structural Family Therapy approach also examines the larger ecosystem of a family, such as their community connection and support systems which can be used to help overcome challenges.

Family therapy is often a HUGE step for family's that find themselves reaching out for it. Kudos to you if you are making the choice to engage in the conflict and issues that are present in your family's life right now. It takes a lot of courage for everyone who is choosing to be involved. My approach to family therapy is working to make sure everyone has a voice in the room and that it feels safe for each member involved in the process. It also is to help each family member to identify their role in the family conflict and how they can help aid in making change for their family unit. It can be messy, but you often have to walk through the mess in order to find healing and a way forward.

Families are fascinating paradoxes. The health of the family system is connected to the interactions among individual family members. I provide a safe place for family members to talk and listen to each other, to express feelings honestly without criticism. Families often come to therapy because of a crisis that has become too overwhelming. In family therapy, we will look at family dynamics, alliances, communication styles, goals and expectations, boundaries, trust issues, behaviors, ways of dealing with conflict. Our goal is to heal the family system.

In family therapy, there are a lot of voices in the room. And in my practice in family therapy, I work to make sure each voice is heard and understood, while also facilitating and maintaining emotional and physical safety in the room. I believe that viewing and tackling the family conflict as a team is generally (with some exceptions) a helpful way in seeing progress. So I work with everyone to identify their role in the conflict and how they can help change their family dynamic.

It has been said that members of a family are like the creatures on a child's mobile - when one moves, they all move. I help families understand their relationships with each other, and how each family member influences and impacts the entire family unit. I work with families to help them learn effective communication and problem solving, while respecting individual autonomy.

We believe in fostering stronger family bonds through compassionate and professional care. Our family therapy approach is designed to help families navigate complex emotions, improve communication, and resolve conflicts in a safe, supportive environment. We use evidence-based techniques to address various issues, from major life changes to mental health concerns. By working collaboratively with you, we aim to create positive changes that enhance your family's well-being and happiness. Start your journey towards a healthier family life with us today.

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.

Family therapy can be a place where all members of a family are safe to discuss their concerns. It is also a place where you can hear each other in new and surprising ways. Being willing to hear, understand and respond to the surprising feelings behind the anger or withdrawal that blocks closeness in your family can set the stage for more cooperation, compromise and a new strategy for interacting without hurt. I will help you do the work of connecting emotionally and strategizing about new ways to cope with old problems. Call me for an appointment to discuss your family's particular difficulties. As a therapist, a wife, and a mother of teenagers, I bring professional and personal resources.