Family Counseling & Therapy | Greenwich Psychology Group

Family Therapy

Overview

Family therapy focuses on the family as an emotional unit. The focus is on the entire family and how they all impact each other/ what is happening to one member of the family will influence other family members. For instance, if an adolescent is exhibiting behavioral issues, therapy will focus on the patterns of the family that may contribute to the adolescent acting out rather than focus on the adolescents individually. As the family uncovers the source of the problem, they can work proactively on minimizing situations that may contribute to the negative adolescent behaviors. Family therapy aims to promote collaboration and understanding among family members by examining the interdependence of familial relationships. GPG family therapists take a collaborative approach to help you understand what is causing conflict and interfering with a happy home environment. Treatment goals may include:

Managing parenting challenges
Conflicts between parents and children
Adjusting to family transitions
Coping with chronic stress
Coping with grief or loss
Adjusting to family transitions i.e., a birth or blended family
Enhancing the connection within the family

Family Therapy Approaches

Greenwich Psychology Group expert family psychologists utilize family systems theory, cognitive behavioral therapy, and exploratory therapy. The family systems approach views the internal dynamics of the family system can maintain negative behaviors as members of the family design specific strategies to support the viability of the family system. These strategies emerge out of creativity for survival, can sometimes be dysfunctional, harmful to the family, and no longer needed as we mature and leave our family of origin. Families, couples, and individuals interact daily within a family system, marital system, sibling subsystem, and the larger societal system. Family and couple therapy provide a window into those systems and specifically the interpersonal relationships within.

The family will explore their family of origin in-depth to learn about patterns that come from generations of their family that are no longer serving them well in their current relationships. This exploration is used to provide a better understanding of how their past influences their current relationships. An important area to assess is the family lifecycle. When families come to therapy, they are usually experiencing being stuck in the middle of a lifecycle. They are experiencing tension, anxiety, and a myriad of other emotions due to the inability to move to the next phase. For example, families may experience stress adjusting to the birth of a new sibling, dealing with adolescents, or young people leaving home or aging family members. Our expert clinicians are skilled at educating you about each stage that is interfering with the tranquility in your home and developing a more meaningful way of relating within the family system.

Our Team

Dr. Normajean

Marriage & Family Therapist

Dr. Cefarelli is a Doctoral level Marriage and Family Therapist; the highest level of clinical and academic training. She is passionate about helping individuals and families understand their struggles and heal in order to form stronger connections within themselves and with others.

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Sephora Baron

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

Sephora Baron is a licensed clinician in both New York and Connecticut. She grew up in New York City and attended a private day school and college preparatory high school. She received her undergraduate degree in Behavioral Science and Human Services from Bellevue University.

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Take the GPG Symptom Checker

At Greenwich Psychology Group, our symptom checker helps clients track their symptoms of depression or anxiety. Taking the assessment doesn't provide a formal diagnosis, but it can help you determine what next steps you may need to take. The evaluation uses a series of questions to review the feelings and symptoms you've experienced over the past two weeks. The results will help you distinguish if professional help is the best next step.

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