Family counseling involves multiple family members working together with a trained counselor. It focuses on relationships, communication patterns, roles, and boundaries within the family system.
At Artisan Counseling, our family counselors serve families in Newport News, Suffolk, and across Virginia via telehealth.
How Family Counseling Differs from Individual Counseling
| Individual Counseling | Family Counseling |
| Focuses on one person’s inner world | Focuses on relationships between family members |
| Addresses personal thoughts & feelings | Addresses communication patterns & dynamics |
| One client | Multiple participants |
Family counseling is based on the idea that families are interconnected systems. When one person struggles, it affects everyone.
Learn more:
When Families Typically Seek Counseling
Common reasons include:
- Ongoing conflict between family members
- A child or teen with behavioral or emotional issues
- Divorce or remarriage
- Grief and loss
- Substance use
- Blended family adjustment
- A family member’s mental health affecting the household
What Happens in a Family Counseling Session
Sessions typically last 50–90 minutes.
The counselor:
- Observes communication patterns
- Ensures each person feels heard
- Identifies unhealthy dynamics
- Introduces strategies for change
Not every session includes every family member. The counselor may meet with specific pairs or individuals as needed.
Common Approaches Used
- Structural Family Therapy — focuses on roles and boundaries
- Strategic Family Therapy — targeted problem-solving
- Bowenian Therapy — multigenerational emotional patterns
- Systemic Therapy — the family as an interconnected unit
Your counselor may draw from multiple models depending on your family’s needs.
Who Needs to Be in the Room?
Ideally, everyone involved in the issue participates. But counseling can still be effective even if not every family member attends.
When one person changes how they respond within the family system, it often shifts the dynamic for everyone.
Family Counseling Is Not About Blame
This is one of the biggest fears families have. A skilled family counselor:
- Creates safety for honesty
- Sets ground rules
- Prevents any one person from dominating
- Helps each member take responsibility without turning sessions into trials
Getting Started
If your family is navigating a difficult time, contact Artisan Counseling at 757.503.2819.
We offer family counseling at:
- Newport News Office — 11713 Jefferson Ave., Suite 200
- Suffolk Office — 1020 Bon Secours Drive, Suite 210
- Telehealth
The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy reports that over 98% of clients surveyed rated family therapy services as good or excellent.
(Source: https://www.aamft.org)
