Families have ways of staying connected regardless of all the tension.

But sometimes, like in a pandemic, it can feel impossible to regain the closeness that once was felt.

Family therapy is designed to create a space for family members to safely air out their concerns in a way that is honest but also digestible.

Meeting as a family is typically far more productive because it gives your therapist a more accurate view of how each family member thinks, speaks and acts.

As a licensed marriage and family therapist, I always prefer to learn about people through their prism not their family member’s perspective, states Bryon Remo, M.Ed., LMFT.

When families are willing to be vulnerable and consider each other’s opinions, there are opportunities to avoid unnecessary conflict and to create the closeness they desire.

Family counseling is a unique type of therapy because it puts the responsibility of the family’s health on everyone’s shoulders.

There is no pointing the finger at one person in the family as if they are “the problem.”

Even though there may be some truth to one person exhbiting more unacceptable behaviors, there is a shared responsibility to family therapy that makes its design truly collaborative.

This often works well for those who feel they are being blamed and pathologized by others in the family.

From a clinical standpoint, I prefer family therapy to other forms of counseling because it is a more accurate way of seeing people.

We live in a context and when we meet together there are more ways to witness authentic family interactions as well as opportunities to create closeness.

When done right, family counseling can also be an incredible way for families to explore their playful side and and not merely pour out their thoughts and feelings.

There is potential in using the therapy hour to become lighter, less judgmental and more empathic toward one another.

Sometimes through a more playful environment families are able to access parts of themselves that often go unused in day to day living.

Family therapy can create conditions that allow for suh closeness and explore new ways of discussing old problems.

This can have a lasting impact on a family’s ability to heal and reset their energy toward one another.

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Bryon Remo, M.Ed., LMFT is a licensed marriage and family therapist practicing in West Hartford, CT. He is married and has three children. When he is not being a dad or therapist, he is often on the tennis court, hiking or doing a little stand up comedy.