Family Counseling
Family Counseling provides an opportunity for family members to discuss their concerns in a setting where they can honestly express thoughts and feelings. Individuals are encouraged to work together to accomplish goals for the good of the family.
Family members may display some of the attitudes and/or communication patterns that make cooperation difficult, and the counselor will point out the patterns that may keep the family from reaching their potential. Family members are encouraged to look at their roles in the family’s functioning and to respond differently. The shift in one’s perspective and/or behavior may prompt further changes which enables their family members to change, with the entire family functioning more effectively over time.
The initial focus of family therapy is to identify the events or patterns that contribute to the conflicts or distance the family is experiencing. Next, the emphasis is on helping the family more constructively address concerns and develop skills to establish new, more satisfying patterns in their family life. This may involve learning new communication patterns, how to navigate conflict more constructively, how to make peace with past hurts, and acquiring tools to develop a stronger foundation for friendship and intimacy.
The final stage of family counseling involves helping families develop a plan to maintain their new direction and effectively manage future conflicts and stresses.
Family Counseling Frequently Asked Questions
How does family counseling differ from other types of counseling?
Family counseling is considered a separate modality than other types of counseling at CPC. In family counseling, the client is the family, rather than any individual. Because of this, the following is done differently:
There is one chart for the family, rather than a chart with only one person’s name on it.
All individuals sign all the consent forms in the chart.
If information is released from the chart, all individuals have to agree that the information be released and do so in writing.
The therapist is generally not going to see the individuals separately, unless it is planned that way for a short time, and each person gets the same consideration.
Can I use my insurance to pay for this service? If not, what is the cost?
Family counseling at CPC is self-pay only. Some information regarding this:
In order to bill an insurance company directly, we have to be able to give a mental health diagnosis. Such a diagnosis is given to an individual, not a family.
A family may choose to seek reimbursement from their insurance company for services as an out-of-network service. CPC can provide a superbill for the family to use in this case. However, there will not be a mental health diagnosis, so chances are the insurance company will not reimburse.
Some families may want to use their healthcare savings account – we can provide a superbill for this as well. It is usually not necessary to have a diagnosis to access funds from a healthcare savings account.