Family Therapy: 5 Ways to Strengthen Your Parent-Child Relationship

The parent-child relationship is the foundation of a child’s understanding of emotional growth. It is foundational to how a child interacts and engages in the world. This bond is also the source of how a child forms their identity and learns to trust themselves and their decisions. So, no pressure, right? 

According to a new study, 41% of parents reported they can’t function most days because of stress, and 48% said they’re completely overwhelmed by stress. The pressure we feel as parents in the current climate is stifling. The cost of living has increased relative to our parents’ generation, the dangers we perceive and have access to knowledge of in our food, and in our surroundings have skyrocketed, and many of us do not feel “OK.” 

A lot of people do not know that family therapy can help not one, or two, but all members of the family navigate changes in relationships, how we communicate, and how we make a family for our future. We wanted to share some of the ways we help strengthen bonds and fill our cups using therapy. 

When is the “right time” for Family Therapy? 

There is stigma around family therapy and many consider it something only families with lots of trauma or addiction undergo, in an inpatient setting. Modern practices could not be further from that. Modern families are embracing therapy to break cycles of behavior, build healthy boundaries, and learn communication techniques that can build lifetime healthy family bonds. Here are some of the ways, and some of the times where family therapy is an excellent tool for navigating change. 

Adolescence and Coming of Age

Understanding and supporting the changes that teens experience during puberty and self-discovery is an important time for family therapy. This stage is filled with emotional, social, and physical growth, and open communication is key to fostering a healthy transition into adulthood. Therapists can serve as mediators, helping families strengthen their connection, build trust, and navigate important conversations. By creating a safe and respectful space, therapy helps bridge the gap between teens and parents, reinforcing a strong support system both at home and beyond.

Overcoming Generational Trauma 

The term “generational trauma” is a term coined by a Canadian psychiatrist, Vivian M. Rakoff, MD, who documented the psychological distress of children of Holocaust survivors. Trauma can also be inherited like hair color or your grandmother’s broach. As a generation, we are now much more aware of the repercussions of trauma and how they impact our own lives. Family therapy is a great way to get generations together for honest discussion about dysfunction and moving forward. Again, these sessions and treatments build bridges from the office to the home that last and repair lifetimes. 

Building Boundaries 

Have you had a new child? Are you experiencing issues with co-dependency with a spouse and their parents? Therapy can help with explaining, building, and maintaining healthy boundaries. Boundaries save relationships. We often can put ourselves and our wants and needs behind those of loved ones and as a result, we can become resentful. This resentment manifests in our work, and in our other relationships and can trigger unhealthy behaviors. Family therapy is a great place to release the pressure valve, learn how to express your needs, and regain your autonomy in new familial dynamics. 

Navigating Big Changes 

Divorce, death, and moving are all huge transitions for families. There are so many emotions experienced by each family member differently and therapy gives each family member a spotlight to share their emotion and for their family to be able to empathize with it. This is a best-case scenario. Big changes can leave lasting scars on people of all ages. Depending on how they experience the loss of what was, the way forward can be painful or more easily integrated. The key to major changes is life will never be as it was. Therapy helps families come to terms with this grief, build new systems for the future, and most importantly hope for the future. 

What are some of the ways that Family Therapy Works? 

What can you expect from family therapy? Family therapy can assess what is dysfunctional in a relationship, build communication, help parents understand how to be more supportive of a child, build trust, and teach parents how NOT to project their own ideals onto their children. You see this is a two-way street. Family therapy works just as hard on parents as young adults, teens, or children. Below are ways to practice family therapy at home. These are what we recommend to our patients and families and how we engage in the office. 

Tips for ‘Taking Treatment Home’

We mention how we build bridges between the Apogee Behavioral Medicine office and home. These are some of our most powerful tips for strengthening bonds even more at home. 

1. Effective Communication: Give your child full attention during conversations and validate their feelings.  Avoid interrupting or immediately offering solutions. Encourage open discussions without judgment, where children feel safe to express their thoughts and emotions. 
2. Quality Time: Time spent with your children doing anything from what you like to do, to what they like to do strengthens emotional bonds. Even ten minutes a day will help children feel valued and connected. Be fully present during these times without phones or work.  
3. Set Boundaries and Consistent Rules:  Establish clear rules and expectations that are age-appropriate. This helps children feel secure. Enforce consequences with empathy, calm, and understanding. Avoid harsh punishments and emotional reactions. The goal is to teach responsibility and self-discipline. 
4. Positive Reinforcement and Encouragement: Recognize achievement and celebrate successes with your children. Even if they are small, this boosts their self-esteem and strengthens your bond. You are showing up for them and encouraging their efforts as well as results building resilience and a growth mindset. 
5. Model Emotional Intelligence: One of the biggest challenges as a parent or in a familial relationship is to understand that the best lessons we teach are how we behave ourselves. Modeling showing empathy to others and also showing empathy to our children helps them feel understood and shows them that we value how other people feel. We also show them how to regulate their emotions, the way we regulate our own emotions. 

Relationships are not set in stone and as people change and grow, so do their needs. As parents, we are growing up with our children. Breaking patterns and relearning how to communicate and nurture deeper and lasting connections with our children. Family therapy helps build trust, respect, and mutual understanding, regardless of the challenges your family is currently facing. This process is not easy but it is worth it to get better every day. 

Apogee Behavioral Medicine offers family therapy in office or via telehealth. Unlike many mental health offices, ours feels a lot more like a home. We pride ourselves on creating safe environments for expressing ourselves and accepting the expressions of others. Learn more about our family therapy options today.