When families come to see me
Parents and teenagers who cannot get through dinner without a blow up. Blended families trying to figure out who belongs where. Adult siblings sorting out care for an aging parent. Families reeling after a loss, a diagnosis, a divorce, or a move. Families where one member is struggling with addiction or mental illness and everyone else is exhausted.
I have raised three daughters with my wife of 30 years, and I know from the inside that family life is beautiful and hard at the same time.
How family sessions work
We usually begin with everyone together so I can see how the family moves as a whole. From there we may meet in different combinations: parents alone, a teen alone, the whole family again. My job is not to take sides. My job is to help each person say what they actually mean and to help the others actually hear it.
We look at patterns rather than blame. Most families are stuck in a loop where each person's reaction triggers the next. Once the loop is visible, it can be changed.
Practical details
Family sessions run about 60 minutes and are held in my Central Point office. I work with children as young as six alongside their parents, with teens, and with adult families. Video sessions are available when getting everyone in one room is not possible.