Family Therapy
At Ellen Pace Therapy, I provide a safe environment for clients to explore family dynamics and work together to set goals for healthy communication and healing for all family members. I’ve lived in Austin for the last 25 years, have been a full-time mother, raising three children with my husband, and understand the difficulties of family life.
I believe that we are each deeply shaped and affected by our upbringing and family environment. How each client interacts with family members informs me of the problems and misunderstandings that are occurring in the family unit. Each member of the family is important and needs to be seen and heard.
Who Needs Family Therapy?
Many issues can affect family communication and happiness. . A family therapist can help you address the root cause of what’s causing problems and learn new coping skills for these issues.
While no two families are exactly alike, some of the situations that can arise and cause stress at home include:
Family members are dealing with anxiety or depression.
Your child or teen is misbehaving, and you don’t know how to stop their bad behavior.
Family members have suffered from domestic violence.
A family member has died, and the family is grieving.
A child is dealing with issues at school, such as bullying.
Multi-generational trauma.
Parents are fighting or are going through a divorce.
Issues between siblings.
A family member has substance abuse or addiction issues.
Difficulty creating healthy boundaries among family members.
Navigating strained relationships with in-laws.
Problems at work hampering family relationships.
What Is Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT)?
At Ellen Pace Therapy, I practice attachment-based family therapy (ABFT), which is a type of family therapy that aims to mend fractured parent-child relationships and rebuild them into a secure and positive one. The ABFT approach has been supported by scientific evidence as an effective treatment for clients suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts.
Goals for Family Therapy
The goal of family therapy is to work together to heal emotional and psychological issues that are causing conflict in your family. In order to help put you on the path to a healthier, more positive family life, therapists can help you improve communication, solve problems, and create a more functional home environment.
Family therapy sessions can help:
Develop healthy boundaries
Reduce familial conflict
Facilitate communication
Promote problem-solving
Build empathy and understanding
Benefits of Family Therapy
Family therapy has proven to be beneficial for a range of issues, including depression, anxiety, trauma, addiction, eating disorders, and personality disorders. Family therapy can help individuals develop new forms of communication and positive ways to express their emotions. There are many benefits of family therapy, including, but not limited to:
Creating honesty between members of the family.
Identify the source of the conflict and tension.
Bring the family together following a traumatic event.
Build a supportive environment for all family members, especially if anger or resentment is present.
Reduce stress within the family.
Help family members forgive others for past behaviors or wrongdoings.
Instill trust in family members who distrust one another.
Develop conflict resolution techniques for family members who are having a dispute.
Bring isolated family members back into the fold.
Develop long-term solutions to ongoing issues.
Feel Free to Reach Out
If you are struggling with family problems, Ellen Pace Therapy can help. For years, I have helped families find solutions to their issues. Together we can implement a therapy strategy that will work best for your unique situation. Call (512) 766-9873 today to learn more about how Ellen Pace Therapy can help you and your family.