5 Benefits of Family Therapy

In truth, every family can benefit from family therapy. However, like traditional therapy, many people balk at the idea initially. The idea of sitting down to discuss problems with your family members can be both uncomfortable and unnerving. Some believe it won’t solve anything, or that other family members will be unwilling to listen. In this case, it’s important to remember that therapists are trained to help you communicate better. They won’t solve problems, but they’ll give you and your family the tools you need to move forward. With a professional’s help, this type of treatment helps couples, parents, and children better understand each other.

If you’re unsure about signing up for family therapy, you aren’t alone. With that being said, you may want to explore how it can benefit you. To help you understand what you can gain from family therapy, we will explore its advantages.

5 Benefits of Family Therapy

1. Learn How Your Family Functions

If you live with your family members, you may not even realize what problems each person is facing on a daily basis. Perhaps your spouse comes home from work frustrated, talkative and irritable. When he speaks with other family members, he’s short with them and initiates arguments impulsively. As a result, everyone feels they’re walking around on eggshells. For you and your children, this is the “norm.” You may not understand that a larger issue is at play, or that it can be resolved in time. With family therapy, you can learn what patterns have become the norm in your family. Once as issues are recognized, they can be closely examined and discussed.

2. Gain Important Communication Skills

To be able to resolve issues, we first need to communicate our honest thoughts and feelings. Again, this may be highly uncomfortable at first, especially if you don’t do so often. However, in time you’ll find that it’s extremely helpful to talk. This way, each family member knows exactly what the other is thinking rather than relying on assumptions. Great communication skills are useful throughout life, so it’s beneficial to develop them in family therapy.

3. Learn How to Resolve Problems with Compassion

At home, tempers flare and conflicts can easily escalate into shouting matches. In this type of situation, the problem is rarely resolved. A therapist encourages everyone to be forthcoming, but to do so in a way that isn’t harmful. In family therapy, you’ll learn how to look at a problem objectively and calmly rather than lashing out.

4.  Reveal Your Feelings in a Safe Environment

Today, families face all kinds of challenges. It’s not difficult to understand why some family members may be uncomfortable opening up to others. For instance, let’s say a 16 year-old in the LGBT community wants to come out to their conservative parents. The parents have noticed their child is excluding them from the details of his/her/their life, so they’re interested in family therapy. In a safe environment and with a third-party present, the teen may be encouraged to speak up and discuss feelings they’ve been holding inside.

5. Develop Better Relationships with Siblings, Parents and Children

For many people today, the word “family” means different things. The people you consider family may not even be related to you by blood. Most of the time, however, our families will be a guiding force in our lives. These are people you should be able to rely on and connect with during tough times. By working on relationships with our siblings, parents, and children, we can forge unbreakable bonds that can help us navigate life. That’s why family therapy is always worth the effort.

Partner with Lead4Life, Inc. Today to Learn More about Family Therapy

Visit our website for more information, or contact us at 240-499-8949. At Lead4Life, we strive to empower every participant in our programs so that they may find their purpose, achieve their goals, and become poised, productive members of their community. We advocate for those in need and assist each and every individual by providing compassionate education and valuable resources and tools so that they can make the very best decisions and develop important life, social, and competency skills.

What Role Does Education Play in Youth Mental Health

What role does education play in youth mental health? Informing our youth is an essential part of helping them to develop mentally and emotionally. In the past, kids were not encouraged to speak up about their struggles. They were told not to cry, to be “seen, but not heard.” This misguided approach led to increased shame, isolation and loneliness. It also made untreated mental illness prevalent in our society. Today, we know that a mentally healthy individual is more likely to feel fulfilled in life. The more we educate our youth, the more comfortable they’ll feel opening up to others.

You’ve probably heard the phrase “knowledge is power,” and that certainly applies. However, when it comes to youth mental health, awareness is also power. Parents and kids need to know symptoms, signs, and how to ask for help.

Education Helps with Early Detection

If you don’t know you have a problem, how can you solve it? Some kids (and adults) with mental health issues believe their struggles are the “norm.” If they recognize that’s something is wrong, they may view it as a personal failure or a personality defect. Education helps kids understand that they are not alone. Their challenges are not unique to them; in fact, some of their closest friends could be facing the same exact problems. Education also teaches young people that asking for help is brave. The sooner they know about mental health, the sooner they can receive help.

Education Encourages a Safe, Open Environment

When youth mental health is prioritized, it gives way to universal understanding and acceptance. From there, more kids can feel safe sharing their innermost thoughts. When young people learn how to express themselves, it can even inspire them to pursue goals they wouldn’t have otherwise. Ultimately, no child should feel like their emotions need to be bottled up and hidden away. By educating kids and adults, we can bring youth mental health out of the darkness and into the light. We can also encourage kids to be themselves without apology.

Education Shows Parents and Teachers How to Address Different Mental Health Challenges

When we talk about youth mental health at Lead4Life, we don’t exclude adults from the conversation. Instead, we welcome them. For kids, their parents, guardians and mentors are their primary examples in life. Those examples can either be positive or negative. With proper education, parents and teachers can know what indicators to look for. A trusted adult is often the first source of help for a child who is suffering. When older individuals know what youth mental health issues look like, they’re more equipped to provide assistance. Furthermore, education introduces adults to various mental health challenges. Parents and teachers should be able to recognize and help with everything from anxiety to post-traumatic stress. However, being able to help doesn’t mean you should have all the answers. Knowing when to seek medical care is sometimes the most important thing you can do.

Partner with Lead4Life, Inc. Today to Learn More about Youth Mental Health

Visit our website and check out our mentoring initiative for more information, or contact us at 240-499-8949. At Lead4Life, we strive to empower every participant in our programs so that they may find their purpose, achieve their goals, and become poised, productive members of their community. We advocate for those in need and assist each and every individual by providing compassionate education and valuable resources and tools so that they can make the very best decisions and develop important life, social, and competency skills.