Family Counseling Services in Plano, TX.

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.

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.

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.

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 who come in for counseling as a family are given a chance to work through issues in a safe environment-- where trust, respect, and honor are learned, given, and received--because the family is intentional about learning new strategies. Families learn that it is counterproductive to have an "identified patient" in the family, where one family member is "tagged" to be the only one acting out and causing family distress. Biblical and Family Systems principles may be applied to have the whole family become engaged in the positive change and nurturing process.

Families are like the baby mobile that hangs over the crib. If you pull one character, the whole thing shakes. Our families are this connected, and if you can begin to understand the roles that everyone plays, you can look at yourself and engage the system differently. Most patterns are predictable in the family (though your family patterns are different than mine) but if you recognize this and can begin to observe yourself acting differently. This will have a huge impact and change the dynamics of the family. Many times we get frustrated when we focus on what we think one member should be doing or not doing, but the change (and the relief) occurs when we look at and change ourselves.

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.

You can think of a family as a team. Each member has a contribution to make and has an impact on the other members. When a child, teen or parent is struggling it affects the entire family. For more than 25 years I've helped families work through challenges and build on their strengths in order to enjoy richer more fulfilling lives. I provide a supportive atmosphere where your family can learn problem-solving and coping skills, the keys to more effective communication and improved ways of relating to each other.

In family therapy, my approach centers on understanding and aligning with the goals and values of the family. To initiate the therapeutic process, a comprehensive examination of internal family systems, roles, and historical dynamics is essential. By delving into the family's history, I gain insights into pivotal events, dynamics, and patterns that have shaped their current situation. This historical context serves as a foundation for identifying areas of strength and areas that may need attention.

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.