One of the reasons I became a therapist was my desire to strengthen families. I have enjoyed working with families since High School. My experiences as a teen mentor and my undergraduate degree in Family Studies emphasized the importance of a strong family unit and highlighted the consequences when it isn’t present. Emotionally healthy individuals are the foundation of strong families. I chose to specialize in family therapy while completing my Masters degree in Social Work to better support individuals and families in understanding themselves and their decision-making. In the Family Therapy Certificate Program at Boston University School of Social Work, I learned how to support parents in strengthening attachment with their children, how to support couples in maintaining a connection through adversity, and how to support children, adolescents, and their families through various stages of development.
The children I work with have a deep desire to be accepted by their parents. The parents I work with are also seeking acceptance- from spouses, parents, children, and other important figures in their lives. We can all remember a time when we felt misunderstood. Maybe you felt disconnected, lonely, less than. When these feelings build, they can cause distress, anger, conflict, and dysfunction. As individuals, we all long to be heard and understood by those we love.
Sitting with a therapist trained in family dynamics can really help you to see conflict and stress in a different light. We work together to understand the motivations and patterns that reinforce behaviors within a family. We explore the factors that contribute to feeling misunderstood. I can help you understand how attachment styles in childhood impact parenting patterns in adulthood, and what can be done to shift the system in a more productive way. I provide validation to parents who don’t know where to turn or what to try next. I work with families to develop solutions for their problems. I believe families can find compassion for each other in the decision-making process. You would be amazed at what can happen when families, or even a parent-child dyad, commit to sitting together to find more positive ways of managing conflict.
Whether you are seeking peace and quiet at dinnertime or you are seeking closer connection with your loved ones, therapy can help. The outcome for each family may be different, but the benefits of feeling known and being understood are truly transformative and well worth it.
