Family Therapy for Teens in Austin | Alpha Behavioral Health

Family therapy is an essential psychotherapy used in treatment at Alpha Behavioral Health. When combined with other therapies, it creates an effective treatment plan that helps teens and young adults overcome serious mental health disorders, such as addiction. It’s an especially tumultuous time for teens at this stage who are seeking independence beyond the family unit. Coming together as a family can be difficult, but family therapy can bridge gaps and foster healing. Understanding how family therapy can help you and your loved ones is not just important for treatment. It helps teens and young adults understand how much they are loved and cared for.

Understanding the Role of Families in Teen Development

Several moving parts behind family relationships make it important for teen development, such as attachment theory. Attachment theory is the psychological and evolutionary framework that is the basis behind relationships. Current relationships are influenced by the early bonds between a person as an infant and their primary caregivers. This positive attachment or development of an attachment disorder forms the future relationship that a teen will have with their caregivers. In times of stress, these attachments can be challenged or damaged. The teen years of development are considered to be the hardest, and this can put a strain on families.

As a result, family therapy is often used to help teens and their families communicate better, address any lingering pains, and treat an attachment disorder. It knocks down barriers that prevent honest and open discussions and encourages healing. Many professionals agree that family therapy is important for healthy development, especially during the transition into adulthood.

Why Family Therapy Matters for Teens in Austin

There is often a disconnect between how families and the teens within think and feel. It’s difficult for adults to understand how a teenager feels, especially when they haven’t been a teen themselves in many years. Times have changed, and teens today face challenges that current adults have never dealt with. Issues such as cyberbullying, increasing rates of substance abuse and addiction, and overall a decrease in mental health are deeply harming the teen population. The COVID-19 pandemic shut down many avenues for community and socialization, and teens are still attempting to recover several years later.

Family therapy offers a safe and supportive environment for a teen to talk and be heard without being talked over. It’s easy for parents or a caregiver to tell a teen that things aren’t bad. For teens, however, everything is terrible because they feel emotions so strongly. Being constantly dismissed does no favors and further pushes teens away from their families. Family therapy helps caregivers understand how their teens are feeling and make active, healthy changes to help them. For teens to become successful adults, they need a strong support network. Family therapy is but one of many therapies that can assist during this difficult and often misunderstood transition.

What Is Family Therapy?

Family therapy is a type of group psychotherapy. It involves a family using the guidance of a mental health care professional to accomplish several goals. These goals are to:

Create a safer and more supportive home environment
Teach family members how to support a struggling family member
Encourage mutual understanding
Strengthen family bonds
Foster healthy communication and conflict resolution
Address and solve issues that specifically affect families’ mental health and functioning

Several techniques are used as part of family therapy to assist in accomplishing these goals. There are:

Behavioral techniques that focus on skill training and psychoeducation
Psychodynamic techniques that focus on using role-playing and modeling to help families address specific problems
Structural techniques that focus on helping families set boundaries and understand the power dynamics within the family unit

Family therapy is not the same for every family. It’s not uncommon for families to need specific therapies and techniques as part of family therapy to inspire healing. Some examples of these therapies and techniques are:

Motivational interviewing
Structural family therapy (SFT)
Interpersonal psychotherapy
Distress tolerance
Active listening
Acceptance and commitment therapy

The Family Therapy Process

For those considering family therapy, they may wonder what to expect. Therapies for mental health are rarely discussed in society, so, understandably, most won’t know what happens during the process. Those who have heard of therapies tend to do so from movies or TV shows that are usually full of misinformation. Family therapy is, in reality, quite simple. A family gathers together in a safe place. Usually, this is within a therapist’s office, but sometimes, this therapy can be conducted at home. A therapist will ask the family questions about their mental health concerns, problems in their relationships, and goals they want to meet. Once the family is evaluated, the therapist will guide them into addressing their concerns.

Therapists work hard to create an environment that is safe and encouraging. This sparks family dialogue and allows feelings to be expressed openly. Participants are never forced to talk if they are not ready. The therapist will also be there to prevent a person from being talked over and allow them to express their needs. Overall, it is the family that does most of the work, with the therapist as a guiding force. The therapist may use therapeutic techniques, such as active listening or structural family therapy, during the process as needed.

A positive therapeutic relationship between client and therapist is essential for healing. There can be no breaking of barriers if trust doesn’t exist. So participants can expect to spend time getting to know their therapist. Trust-building exercises, icebreakers, and other techniques are used to help foster a positive therapeutic relationship.

Participants have the same rights as any other type of therapy. They may request a pause on a topic to return to later. Participants are free to ask their therapist questions. If they need to take a break, it’s okay to take time to cool off or calm down. It’s hard for a teen to talk to their family, and vice versa. Family therapy can even be difficult at first. However, families that stick together through family therapy see lasting and positive results.

Common Approaches Used in Family Therapy

Family therapy is a group psychotherapy. However, it often uses approaches gained from individual counseling and psychotherapy. Though highly effective individually, these therapies have lasting applications during family therapy. Some of these common approaches include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a psychotherapy that teaches participants how to identify and change harmful thoughts and behavior patterns. In family therapy, it’s used to help families understand how their actions and words affect each other. Then, guide them into changing core behaviors to be more aware and considerate.

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is also heavily utilized as it focuses on accepting and regulating emotions. Due to the high emotional loads experienced by teens, emotionally focused therapy is often the most heavily used. This helps teens balance and accept their emotions during a difficult part of their lives. Many teens have spent their lives being told that some emotions are wrong, and emotionally focused therapies help undo this damage for a healthy emotional range.

Family therapy is an essential part of relapse prevention training. By participating in relapse prevention training together, families learn how to keep their loved ones healthy and safe post-treatment. It allows families to learn concepts such as boundary setting, creating a safe home, and respecting a person’s autonomy. For recovering teens, it teaches families how to be aware of the signs of a relapse and the steps they can take to prevent it. It allows families to be active participants in their teens’ recovery. The support results in stronger and more understanding relationships.

Addressing Mental Health Challenges

Family therapy is used not just as a way to improve familial relationships. It’s also a core therapy used to address serious and often chronic mental health disorders such as:

Anxiety and other anxiety-based disorders
Depression and major depressive disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-based disorders
Substance use disorder (SUD) and addiction
Bipolar disorder
Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

It’s important to remember that mental health disorders are not “cured.” Instead, people achieve recovery. This state of recovery is achieved by managing your mental health disorder in such a way that you can function normally without constant distress. No matter the mental health disorder, a person can achieve recovery.

Family therapy helps families support their loved ones through their recovery journey. It allows them to make changes that support their loved one’s needs, such as giving up personal recreational substance use to support their teens with substance use disorder. Families are educated about mental health disorders to promote understanding. For example, their teen with major depressive disorder is not “lazy.” They are doing the best they can. Family therapy dismantles stigma and misinformation, allowing people with serious mental health disorders to feel loved and secure. These feelings of love and safety are often enough to keep a young person in recovery during future challenging times.

Our Family Therapy Programs at Alpha Behavioral Health

Alpha Behavioral Health is a comprehensive and holistic residential treatment center specializing in treating teens aged 14-30. With our unique focus, we provide support to a vulnerable group of people who often feel dismissed or ignored. Our expert staff is trained to provide understanding and compassionate care to a diverse population. This includes LGTBQIA+ youth – a group particularly vulnerable to serious conditions, such as substance use disorder and suicidal ideation. With a safe and encouraging environment, our goal is to not just provide a safe place to recover. We also work to provide a loving and empowering community to give teens the head start they need in life to be successful.

This includes the Alpha Launch program, a program specifically designed for teens to give them the skills needed to transition into adulthood. By offering tailored therapy services, a supportive community, and professional intervention, teens gain the confidence and positive self-esteem needed to succeed. Part of the Alpha Launch program includes integrated family therapy. Family therapy is also easily integrated into our other treatment programs, such as the Alpha 180 transitional living program and the intensive outpatient program (IOP). With the aid of our expert mental health care professionals, families and their teens can receive the best customized care available.

It’s scary to have a loved one struggle with substance use disorder and addiction. However, as long as families and their loved ones work together, anyone can achieve long-lasting recovery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is family therapy right for my teen?

Family therapy is a therapy that can be useful for everyone. However, it’s important to trust in your teens’ treatment provider to know for sure if family therapy is appropriate or not. Teens do find benefits in family therapy even without a mental health disorder, as it helps them communicate effectively.

How long does family therapy last?

Family therapy tends to average around 12 sessions. However, this length can be longer or shorter depending on the needs of your family.

What if my teen is reluctant to participate in family therapy sessions?

It’s important to understand that you cannot force someone to participate in therapy. Attempting to force a teen will only make them withdraw harder. To encourage a teen to participate, you should approach the situation with empathy and understanding. Explain to your teen that attending family therapy does not make them broken, bad, or wrong. It’s simply a tool to help foster communication and understanding. Validate their feelings and take the time to explain how family therapy works to prevent any misconceptions or misinformation. Emphasize that family therapy is safe and confidential. Teens often need a couple of sessions before they feel confident enough to participate, so be patient.

Speaking with your teen’s treatment provider will also yield advice in helping your teen feel comfortable and safe during family therapy.

Family therapy is an essential tool to help teens and their families understand and communicate with each other. To learn more about family therapy offered at Alpha Behavioral Health in Austin, TX, call us today at (833) 257-4218.