Family Counseling

Does it seem like no one gets along at home anymore?

Has coparenting become a constant battle you feel like you're losing?

Is your family wrestling through the aftermath of a divorce or process of remarriage?

Have depression, anxiety, or anger made everyone feel like they walk on eggshells at home?

Do you wonder if your parenting style just isn't working anymore?

Have you found it hard to balance discipline and love in your relationships with your kids?

Family counseling can help you and your loved ones navigate the ins & outs of how your family works and relates. At Salem Counseling Center, we take a systems-based approach to family therapy -- meaning that we believe families work almost like an ecosystem, or a single organism.

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That might sound weird, but imagine: What would happen if your family was tied together to compete in a 3-legged race, and a team member fell down or refused to move forward? Most likely, the rest of the team is going to try and complete the race by picking up the slack - whether that means supporting the injured teammate or dragging them kicking and screaming.

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Sometimes, the ways we manage change, challenges, or conflict in our families can be more effective than at other times. Family therapy provides an opportunity for us to explore those dynamics so that the next time we encounter a familiar argument or tension point, we feel more prepared with how to handle things a better way.

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Some common concerns that families often work with us on include:

• Reducing conflict and fighting at home

• Improving sibling relationships

• Creating parenting strategies that work

• Supporting loved ones living with mental or physical illness

• Surviving and overcoming life-altering circumstances, such as loss, divorce, or other unexpected adjustments

• Finding ways to co-parent effectively

Families we've worked with often see results similar to:

• Finding better ways to set and manage boundaries without hurting each other

• Creating new ways to communicate so that you can help more effectively

• Developing deeper connections with each other

• Managing life stress, transitions, or loss together

• Repairing a relationship that's been damaged by a loss of trust or other injury

• Figuring out how to manage step-parenting, co-parenting, and other disciplinary issues

• Balancing compassion and consequences as parents

• Having fewer arguments about things like anger and attitudes, or grades and school problems

• Feeling like you're on the same team again

Call us today to see if a family therapy session with Salem Counseling Center might be of use to you and those you love most.

What does Family Counseling look like?

At Salem Counseling Center, we believe that each member of your family brings valuable insight, perspective, and strengths to your family system. While family counseling sessions can vary in structure, we strive to use our time to help you and your family understand how your unique dynamics impact the ways you connect and solve problems.

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Family therapy can follow a process similar to:

1. First session: Intake -- We will identify your primary concerns, goals, and begin to assess your family's structure and relationship patterns. We will establish expectations for family sessions and create a game plan for future sessions.

2. Family Mapping -- We will create a working model of how your family interacts in relation to our primary target areas. We may use structured exercises in session to explore common patterns of communication and develop new ways of connecting more effectively. At this stage, the goal is to tease out any patterns that are preventing your family from fully engaging with your goals.

3. Follow-up Sessions: Processing, Application, & Maintenance -- As we develop a clear picture of your family's communication and problem-solving styles, we will apply new practices, skills, and perspectives to your specific concerns. We will process things that come easily and new strategies that feel clunky or unfamiliar. As you and your family begin to see growth and change, we will strengthen your ability to maintain the positive effects of your hard work.

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Family therapy can be an excellent place to explore ongoing patterns that cause frustration, conflict, or confusion. It can also be a great resource for learning new ways of interacting and connecting. Family counseling is available at both our Winston-Salem office and through our HIPAA-compliant online counseling platform.

Want to find out more about Family Counseling with

Salem Counseling Center, or set up an appointment?

Family Counseling can help you and your family learn effective ways of dealing with things like: