Family Conflict

At my core, I am what is considered a family systems therapist which essentially means that I see my clients' behavioral and mental stressors as a byproduct of their family system. I utilize Structural Family Therapy and Bowenian Family Therapy as my lens when working with families. Most of my work with family units include parents with their teen children and adult children and their parents. My hope is to create a calm space to hear one another and build communication skills.

Looking at family conflict from the lens of generational trauma, I support clients who are navigating issues of the past in their lives today.

I enjoy working with adult children and their parents to help open the lines of communication and change old relationship patterns. I think adulthood is a great time to work on re-working relationships with parents and siblings so you can have healthier connections going forward.

I specialize in helping individuals and families navigate conflict with compassion and understanding. By addressing underlying patterns and dynamics, I guide clients toward improved communication, strengthened relationships, and greater emotional connection. Utilizing evidence-based approaches such as family systems, attachment theory, and mindfulness, I foster growth, healing, and harmony within families.

No one talks to each other anyone. Your house is too quiet. Or when they do talk, conversation escalates rapidly to yelling and slammed doors. Whether you're a household with teens, or adult siblings or grandparents struggling to talk to your adult children - it's time to get help. Soon you can laugh again with that broody teen, uncover whatever is going on that lingers unsaid between you, clear the air and learn skills to talk, listen, and hear each other in healthy ways - and it can be FUN!

We help families get out of negative patterns of communication and get on the same page with things like parenting.

I work with adult clients who have experienced chronic invalidation, shame, criticism, and/or lack of acceptance from family growing up. Families who exhibit tendencies of a personality disorder, narcissistic tendencies, or who are emotionally immature, may fail to make their child feel seen, heard, and valued. Some children have grown up to feel that emotional volatility, tension, and poor communication skills in their home life are the norm.

Making decisions about caring for an older parent, sibling, or other family member can be loaded with emotion and challenge. I love being a part of facilitating these hard (and necessary) conversations between family members. Whether it's focused on a move to residential care, or end-of-life decisions, I bring a calm, organized, gentle nudging presence to these conversations.

Families can be a wonderful source of support for their members, however, when a family is in conflict, that conflict can touch every part of a person's life. Whether you're coming in on your own or with your entire family, my systemic beliefs and approach can create opportunities to examine the boundaries between and among family members, learn how to express yourselves in ways that your family members can hear you, and be given some concrete strategies to solve various problems.

At The Refuge Marriage and Family Therapy, we specialize in helping families navigate and resolve conflict. Using a blend of research-based approaches like the Gottman Method and Emotion-Focused Therapy, we guide families in improving communication, fostering understanding, and building stronger relationships. Our trauma-informed, inclusive approach helps families address underlying issues, enhance emotional regulation, and create lasting solutions to restore harmony and connection.

Struggling with relationships with family members, family or origin or someone close to you? Maybe you have a toxic or abusive family member? Family conflict can be distressing and make you feel alienated. Let me help you navigate these issues and create a plan so that you can have the peace and valuable relationships you deserve!

Family Conflict can happen when family members have different views or beliefs that clash. Peaceful resolution depends on negotiation and respect for the other person’s point of view. Effect communication is key.

I believe that we are made up of the stories of our pasts, but that our pasts do not freeze us in time. My hope is that we can examine how our past experiences, particularly those from our childhood, affect our lives today. From here we can move forward and find ways to integrate and heal from our past.

Our family affects who we are and who we become, both for the better and worse. We learn our vocabulary, habits, customs, and rituals and how to view and observe the world around us. Anyone seeking healthier, closer family relationships can benefit from family therapy.Family therapy is necessary to address family issues and heal a family’s wounds. Does this resonate with your family, consider seeking family therapy. Family therapy can be beneficial on many different levels.