Family Counseling Services in Dallas, TX.

Distressed family members too often exclusively focus their efforts on changing their difficult sibling, parent, grandparent or in-law. This is ineffective. Difficult family members often resist such efforts. I teach each family member how to first work on changing their own self-defeating emotional and behavioral reactions in response to their difficult family members. Once someone calms down and not gets so upset about the other people in their family they can influence other people to find better ways to live with or at least gracefully tolerate each other. I show each family member how to work on themselves in order to have a better chance of influencing others. Think about this.

Being a parent can be difficult and stressful. It doesn't have to be, but it does take effort to change the negative family behavior patterns. Many parents fall into the trap of punishment as a deterrent, and sometimes you may feel like all you ever do is punish your child. Let's flip that around: Instead of, "If you get into trouble at school today, you're grounded for a week" let's try, "If you don't get into trouble at school today, we can go to the park this weekend." Take it day by day. Every day is different. You can offer 30 minutes extra screen time or video game or, as a big reward, a sleepover. Let's talk about it!

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.

We provide a safe place for you to talk about difficult issues, sort out your situation and your goals, and start to take make healthy choices to take care of yourself, your family, and your children. We provide a space to let go of some of the self doubt and anxiety and help you gain perspective and the tools needed to get your life back on track. It is important for parents to take time for themselves to get their anxiety or depression under control so that they are in a better frame of mind to be a support to their family.

My approach is grounded in recognizing and addressing the unique dynamics that exist within family systems. I work collaboratively with families to foster open communication, resolve conflicts, and strengthen the bonds between family members. Ultimately, family counseling promotes healthier relationships, improved understanding, and a more harmonious family environment, leading to long-lasting positive changes and enhanced family functioning.

Let me guess. One partner feels alone and like they don't matter and the other feels they are always being criticized and can't get anything right. The more one asks for the other to show up, the more the partner disappears physically and emotionally. You both bicker and fight and the idea of sitting and just hanging out seems elusive, if not impossible. Something like this? Often we crave connection but are blocked by the pain and the history that gets in the way. Small fights about little things become battles that highlight our struggle to have our basic relational needs met. I can help you get under the bickering to the parts crying out for connection- to an enriching relationship.

I have been fortunate to assist couples as they work through problems occurring in their families. I help them identify ways to strengthen and heal their relationships. Parents can learn to enhance their relationships with their children, creating a stronger bond. I have helped couples who have made the decision to separate amicably while continuing to support their children in the process. I have also worked with addiction in families and have helped each member understand the cycle of addiction and begin their recovery journey.

When individual challenges affect the family dynamics, it is important to work on healthy communication and better interactions to resolve tension and conflict. These challenges are sometimes better overcome in an objective and nonjudgmental environment. Learning tangible tools to navigate through ongoing and upcoming challenges are beneficial and helpful to achieve a harmony among individuals in the family unit.

Our families, if nothing else, play one of the most important roles in who we were, who we are, and who we will become whether we are with them or not. Learning to break free of hardwired response patterns in families can feel like trying to drive forwards when the car is in reverse. Family therapy is very different than traditional therapy- in a family session, the whole "family" is the client- meaning that no one person the focal point of change. It is our system, our patterns, that make or break how we engage, learn, and love one another. It is my hope that I can help your family create new bonds, heal old hurts, and learn to build a new system that supports each persons growth.

Let’s be honest—parents don’t have all the answers, although they wish they did. But they always have a lot of heart and a lot of love for their children. When raising children becomes challenging—or even overwhelming—know that you are not alone. Sometimes parents need help with their children, adolescents, and teens. Every parent has questions about how to improve their parenting, deal with difficult situations, and strengthen family life. Our professional family counselors can give you the guidance you are looking for…and we will also be sure to remind you that if you are filled with a lot of love for your children then you really are a great parent already!

In family therapy, I will help you and your family better understand the roles that you live with and the conflicts that arise as a result of these roles. We will work through communication problems and create plans to help you and your family overcome these communication problems and establish more positive lines of communication with each other. Call me or e-mail me today to set up a consultation to see how I may be able to help you with your family problems.

Do you feel disconnected from your wife or kids? Does it feel like you’ve lost control of your home? Or have you experienced something difficult within your family that’s not been resolved? If so, I can help. As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist I’m an expert in relationships, and have been trained to identify the patterns within families that aren’t working, develop healthier ones, improve communication and understanding, and help families forge a new path forward. This often looks like a combination of family sessions, parent sessions, and individual sessions. I provide online therapy over HIPAA-secure video, and if given the opportunity, would be honored to serve your family.

Family therapy is an essential part of the therapy process. The burden of change is not exclusively on the individual client. Underwood Counseling & Consultation, PLLC believes that a family must explore their role in the dysfunction in order for healing to occur. Family therapy offers clients the opportunity to improve communication, examine roles, & align values & beliefs.