Family Therapy Helps Parents Understand and Rebuild

family therapy

A teen struggling with any mental or emotional illness can wreck havoc on an entire family. Whether it is depression, oppositional defiant disorder, anorexia, ADHD, bipolar disorder or the like, the battle is not only faced by the individual, but also his or her family. Though you already know your teen needs help to recover, family therapy can be a helpful part of the process. Knowing how you can help, understanding their disorder and rebuilding relationships are all benefits that cannot be addressed in individual therapy alone. Family therapy is key.

Improve communication with your teen

When you live in a house with a troubled teen, it might seem like all you ever do is fight. They are rebellious or closed off, they are indulging in drugs or alcohol, they want more freedom. The communication between families and troubled teens often breaks down slowly. You do not want to set off yet another argument, so you are careful with what you say to your teen. He or she does not think you understand what they are going through, so they stop sharing much information with you. It seems like a never-ending cycle that continues to worsen. Family therapy can help to rebuild the lines of communication with your troubled teenager.
Here are some very simple, but effective things to say to your teen:

  • I love you
  • How can I help?
  • I know this is hard for you
  • You are strong/beautiful/resilient/etc.
  • I will be here for you, always

Though these seem predictable and ingenuous, it is important for those facing mental or emotional issues to be reminded of simple truths. If your daughter is battling anorexia or bulimia and hears you say she is beautiful and capable, she might dismiss it; but a consistent reminder of reality is helpful in overcoming self-destructive behaviors. Mental disorders attack who a person is and skew their perspective of reality. The simplest of reminders about who they are, what they can do, and who is there to support them, can make all the difference in recovery.

Family is not an important thing. It’s everything. -Michael J. Fox

Family therapy benefits the whole family, not just your troubled teen

One of the greatest benefits of family therapy is that it helps parents understand the mental and emotional struggles their child is facing. Family therapy will help you understand the symptoms and triggers for your teen’s disorder; it can help you become in a better position to help your teen through the highs and lows.

blueFire Wilderness understands the importance of family therapy to an individual’s success. For information on our program or ways you can help your teen, call 844-413-1999.

Related posts:

  1. All in the Family: Benefits of Family Therapy
  2. The Lasting Effects of Family-Centered Therapy
  3. Addressing Troubled Behavior Through Adoption Therapy
  4. Does Family Dinner Feel Like a Battlefield? Family Therapy Can Help
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Kathy Rex

As long as I can remember the outdoors has been a place that fills my soul with happiness, clarity, peace, inspiration, and connections. Connecting with Mother Nature is powerful and never disappoints, even when hardships are a part of that process. Sitting peacefully in any outdoor setting witnessing even the slightest hint of survival (think of that lone flower that grows out of a rock in the middle of a desert) is my life source and reminds me how precious and our lives are, and how resilient we can be. Having shared experiences with others in the outdoors brings me such joy! My introduction to Wilderness Therapy came at a time when I, myself, was at a crossroads in life. Being witness to the reunification of children with their parents after being apart for several weeks was hands down the most miraculous thing I had ever witnessed. Weeks later, after packing my car with all my belongings, and my then 2 year old son, we ventured out to the deserts of southcentral Idaho to embark on a journey that I have never looked back from. The power and value of that parent-child connection has always been at the core of what has driven me in my home and in my work. My children and grandchildren are pretty remarkable too. What I learned early on, and continue to learn, is that change is hard…..and necessary. We have to be able to be honest with ourselves, listen to others, communicate effectively, and continually make decisions which are based on the best information available to us at the time. One cannot hide from themselves for long when they learn to sit still, observe, and then take action. Trust, Reliance, Vulnerability, Humility, Sacrifice, Acceptance, Confidence, Honesty, etc. The list goes on and on as far as what one is capable of experiencing in a wilderness setting. Since 1989 I have had many wonderful opportunities to be able to guide young people on their own journeys while enjoying the outdoors. Seeing the joy and eye-popping realization of one’s own value and capabilities is what drives me to stay involved in the work I do on a daily basis. Families embarking on this journey together is miraculous and inspiring. SouthCentral Idaho provides the perfect landscape for this amazing opportunity. Wilderness Therapy is my calling.

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