Sometimes families find themselves out of sync with one another. This can happen in large and dramatic ways and in smaller, more subtle ways. A child is born, another leaves for college these transitions may seem like expected and generally happy occurrences, but any change can cause disruption, leaving family members feeling disconnected or at odds with one another. The loss of a job, trauma, substance abuse, illness or death, can shake the foundation of even the most stable family unit.

In my work with families, I focus on the activation or re-establishment of strong communication channels, providing opportunities for each member to express their point of view. All family members are encouraged to participate; to contribute to the understanding of the “problem” as well as the “solution.” Identifying patterns of interaction, providing a safe space to voice potentially controversial thoughts or feelings and developing shared goals for progress are important to working through family challenges.