Family Counseling Bethesda MD
Our families play an important part in our emotional, intellectual, and spiritual development. Each family is different and each family has their own problems and their own way of communicating, or not, with one another. Although how someone defines their family varies greatly from person to person, everyone is brought up in a type of family unit. In these units, if someone is having a great day or a terrible day, everyone else is affected. If someone in the family is dealing with a problem like addition, everyone else suffers too. For these reasons, family counseling can be very beneficial, which is why for family counseling, Bethesda, Maryland trusts Lindsey Hoskins & Associates.
In addition to using family counseling, in Bethesda, MD, it is common for many family counselors to also treat the individual’s problem which is affecting the whole family. These would commonly include divorce, addition, or behavioral problems. In terms of family counseling, the unit is considered the family and the person who is having a problem is part of the sub-system.
In all systems, everything is connected. Instead of addressing problems based on an individual basis, family counseling sees that the problems don’t just affect one person but the whole family. The main goal of family counseling in Bethesda, MD is to meet the needs of everyone in the family. The main solution everyone is working towards is for the family to work better because when the family works better together, everyone in the family does better individually.
Family counseling is helpful for:
- Preparing for divorce
- Preparing for a remarriage to take place
- Dealing with death
- Dealing with another member of the family’s behavioral or mental issues
5 Causes For Family Conflicts
It is common for many families to experience arguments and other conflicts, but when they become so intense that they threaten to break the relationships completely, it may be time to seek help from a therapist who specializes in family counseling in Bethesda, MD. Family counseling is a practice area that many therapists specialize in. The situations that families go through vary, and there are many reasons that may cause them to develop issues that are based on past trauma and other experiences. The following situations are some of the many causes that often lead to family conflicts.
Verbal or Emotional Abuse
When family members speak to each other harshly, it can have a detrimental impact on mental health and how relatives perceive each other. Experiencing verbal abuse on a daily basis can cause a lot of damage to a person’s self-confidence, self-esteem, and inhibit their ability to communicate and connect with others. If verbal or emotional abuse is common in your home, you may want to meet with a skilled therapist to address this behavior and receive treatment.
Divorce
Divorce is one of the biggest factors that prompt many families to seek counseling. It can have a tremendous impact on a family, especially if a divorcing couple has children. The children can have a strong reaction to the divorce, and they may not be able to process their emotions well, causing them to lash out and suffer behavioral issues. However, divorce can impact family members regardless of age.
Addiction
Another common issue that affects families is addiction or substance abuse. Whether it’s alcohol or drug abuse, addiction can significantly impact the stability of families. When one family member is consumed by addiction, they are not able to provide for the rest of their family since all of their attention is focused on drugs or alcohol.
Financial Issues
Disputes over money is one of the biggest reasons that patients attending family counseling give. It is easy to get overwhelmed by financial issues, such as paying off debt or losing a job. It can severely disrupt a family, affecting the strength of their relationships. It can lead to many conflicts and disagreements. If family members cannot agree on financial solutions, it can cause feelings of resentment between them, as a Bethesda family counseling therapist can explain.
Issues With Partner’s Family
Meeting your partner’s family for the first time can be daunting, and for some people negative interactions between partners’ families can result in long-term problems. If there is an issue with your partner’s family or vice versa, it can put a lot of pressure on the couple to come up with a solution. However, this can cause tension and other issues between the couple. Meeting with a family therapist can help you find ways to navigate your situation.
Regardless of what psychological, behavioral or emotional issues that are impacting your family relationships, a therapist has the experience and skills to treat you and help you work towards a solution. Request a consultation right away so that you can learn more information about family counseling services.
If you and certain family members are going through challenges and would like to consider counseling as a solution, schedule a risk-free consultation to meet with an experienced and qualified Bethesda family counseling therapist.
At Lindsey Hoskins & Associates, family counseling in Bethesda, we believe there are many benefits of coming together as a whole family to go to family counseling. Some of these benefits include:
- Each member of the family can learn their strengths and weaknesses.
- Everyone in the family can learn how to communicate their feelings better.
- The family can learn to solve their issues.
- Siblings can learn to resolve issues.
- Parents and children can learn to communicate better.
- Everyone in the family can get a clearer perspective on how the family functions and what everyone’s role is.
- The family is able to talk about their feelings about issues that the family has been going through and find solutions.
Throughout children’s lives, family is extremely important. Many reasons that children or teenagers act out or start experimenting relate to something occurring within their family. This is why family counseling can be extremely beneficial. While negative behaviors can affect the family, the same can happen when someone makes a big change in a positive way. If an addict has gotten clean and is trying to stay clean, the parents may focus on that person in the family and the rest of the family may get neglected or are expected to just forgive and forget any damage that has been caused by the other family. Family counseling allows for everyone in the family to heal.
If your family is dealing with issues, it is important to speak to someone. Families are not perfect and you are not alone in your struggles. By using family counseling, Bethesda, MD therapists believe it can only make your family stronger. Contact Lindsey Hoskins & Associates today to learn how we can help.
Can This Marriage Be Saved?
Are you wondering if it’s too late to save your marriage? Should you consider family counseling in Bethesda, Maryland? Or, should you remain in the marriage or get divorced?
At Lindsey Hoskins & Associates, we understand that the people who are asking these questions are typically hurting and trying to cope with their dilemma. So, to answer these questions, two essential components should be addressed.
Degree of Motivation
Have either you or your partner given up and thrown in the towel? Perhaps there is a determination to turn the unhealthy marriage around. Or, undertaking family counseling in Bethesda MD is merely a way of reinforcing and validating the need for divorce. Most likely, a couples’ motivation and intention for their marriage lies somewhere in between.
Timing
Most couples endure more than a handful of years of misery before seeking the appropriate help. Sometimes they have dug themselves into a deep rut of resentment and apathy. It’s essential for couples to enter Bethesda MD family counseling before they’ve driven the marriage until the wheels fall off.
If spouses in Bethesda MD undertake family counseling when problems start to arise, they have a better chance of regaining what was lost. If they pursue family counseling at the first sign of trouble, they’ll likely have a better chance of maintaining the partnership.
Is It Ever Too Late to Save a Marriage?
Rather than ask from this perspective, it might be better to ask: Is it ever too late to try something different?
Unfortunately, sometimes the individual issues have become multi-headed monsters and contention over them has crescendoed to a long-standing feud and deadlock. A sound first step in resolving the gridlock is to help each partner see how their actions trigger and escalate one another.
Couples may need help identifying and clarifying what needs, dreams, and goals underlie their impassable issue. In Lindsey Hoskins & Associates, we can help couples accept responsibility for their own behavior.
Then, couples can make strides toward saving their marriage by embracing ownership of their “stuff” and by ditching their resentments and expectations. They can take a huge step toward healing their relationship by accepting that each one has part of the blame.
The Inevitability of Conflict
One of the most common disagreements couples have is fighting about money. Typically, there’s only so much to go around and each partner has different opinions on spending priorities. In this situation, a couple may need to explain to each other what their priorities are and what they mean to them.
Couples may need a structure and some improved communication skills to have a conversation that works to resolve a tough issue. Each of them may need to learn to speak so that they can be fully heard and understood. With effort, couples can begin to accept that they are two separate people who don’t have to see everything the same way.
Conflict is an inescapable part of marriage. And one of the secrets of a healthy marriage is partners learning to choose their battles wisely, focusing on the critical issues instead of the small or trivial ones.
If you think your marriage may need some fine tuning, Lindsey Hoskins & Associates wants to help. Call us to find out more about family counseling Bethesda MD clients recommend and how it may be able to help you and your spouse.