Families are made up of individuals, and when one member is struggling, the effects are felt throughout the system. Family counseling brings members together to address what is happening within the home, improve how the family communicates and build a sense of stability that supports everyone involved.
At Artisan Counseling, our licensed counselors work with families of all structures. The goal is not to identify who is at fault. It is to help the family function as a unit, especially during periods of stress, change or conflict.
There is no single event that signals the need for family therapy. Some families begin counseling after a specific incident, while others seek support because the way they have been interacting is no longer working.
Family counseling may be helpful when:
Family therapy works best when the members who attend are willing to listen and engage in the process. Your counselor will guide the sessions and ensure that each person has a voice.
Family counselors at Artisan Counseling work with a range of concerns. Some of the most common include:
Parent-child conflict. Disagreements between parents and children, particularly adolescents, can escalate quickly. Therapy helps both sides understand the other’s perspective and develop new ways to communicate.
Divorce & co-parenting. The end of a marriage does not end the family. Counseling supports parents in maintaining a relationship that prioritizes the well-being of the children.
Blended family adjustment. Bringing two families together introduces new roles, expectations and tensions. Therapy provides a space to address those challenges openly.
Behavioral concerns in children & teens. When a child is acting out, withdrawing or struggling to function, the family as a whole is affected. Therapy examines what may be contributing to the behavior and how the family can respond with support.
Grief within the family. Losing a family member, including through death, estrangement or incarceration, affects everyone differently. Counseling helps the family process that loss together while honoring each person’s experience.
Substance use. When one family member is dealing with substance use, the dynamics within the home shift. Therapy supports the family in getting to know addiction, setting boundaries and working toward recovery as a unit.
Trauma. Exposure to trauma, including abuse, violence, accidents or community events, impacts family functioning. Therapy creates a space where the family can begin to heal together.
Communication patterns. Yelling, shutting down, avoiding and blaming are all patterns that erode the family’s ability to connect. Counseling teaches new skills and helps the family practice them in session.
Family counseling at Artisan Counseling follows a structured but flexible process.
Initial assessment. Your counselor will meet with the family to understand the concerns that brought you in. This may include meeting with the full group, with individual members or with subgroups such as parents or siblings. The assessment helps your counselor identify patterns and determine how to approach treatment.
Goal development. Based on the assessment, your counselor will work with the family to set goals. These goals are specific to your family and may include things like reducing conflict, improving communication between a parent and child, processing a loss or establishing routines and boundaries.
Ongoing sessions. Sessions are typically 50 to 60 minutes and occur weekly or biweekly. Your counselor may use activities, role-playing, structured conversations or skill-building exercises depending on the age of the family members and the goals of treatment.
Systems thinking. Family therapy is grounded in the idea that individuals exist within a system. What one person does affects the others. Your counselor will help the family see how their behaviors, roles and patterns influence each other, and will work with the family to shift the dynamics that are causing distress.
Ongoing adjustment. As the family changes, so does the therapy. Your counselor will regularly check in to assess progress and adjust the plan as needed.
When children or adolescents are involved in family counseling, the counselor adjusts the approach to fit their developmental stage. Younger children may engage through play, art or storytelling. Teens may benefit from having time in session to share their perspective without feeling outnumbered or talked over.
Our counselors are trained to create a space where younger family members feel safe to participate. This may include:
Many parents find that the skills they learn in family therapy also improve how they respond to their children outside of session. Research supports the use of family-based interventions for concerns such as youth behavioral issues, substance use and trauma responses.
The length of therapy depends on your goals and your progress. Some clients attend for a few months and others continue for a year or longer. Your counselor will work with you to determine what makes sense for your situation.
No. Telehealth is available to any client who is physically located in Virginia at the time of their session. You do not need to live near either of our offices.
Most clients start with weekly sessions. As you progress, you and your counselor may decide to move to biweekly or monthly sessions.
No. You are in control of what you share. Your counselor may ask questions about your history, but you decide what feels appropriate to discuss and when.
Therapy is not about giving advice. Your counselor will help you examine your thoughts, feelings and behaviors so you can make informed decisions for yourself.
The relationship between you and your counselor matters. If you feel the fit is not right, let us know. We can help you find a different counselor on our team.
Yes. What you share in therapy is protected by law with a few exceptions that your counselor will explain during your first session.
Yes. Many of our counselors offer telehealth sessions for clients located in Virginia.
We accept all major insurance providers. If you are self-pay or have questions about coverage, contact our office and we will walk you through your options.
At Artisan Counseling, these terms are used interchangeably.
If your family is going through a difficult time and you are looking for support, contact Artisan Counseling at 757.503.2819 or use the form on our Contact page.
You do not need to have all the answers before reaching out. Our team will help you determine the right starting point for your family.