Family Therapy for Adults: Healing Grown-Up Relationships

Many people think of family therapy as a service for children. Its purpose is to help children and their parents learn to get along better. Guess what? Adult children and adult parents can also struggle in their relationships. Adults, therefore, can also engage in family therapy.

Family therapy for adult family members is different from child family therapy in some important ways. First, all parties must consent to therapy. This differs from child and adolescent therapy where parents can consent on behalf of their children (ICANotes, n.d.). Second, scheduling family therapy can be a bit more difficult, as parties may have different availability, and/or live in different states. In some situations, family members may wish to meet for family intensive therapy, if schedules and/or geography limit regular in-person sessions (Evolve Phx, n.d.). This may allow for focused work that will benefit the family unit overall.

What kinds of benefits might adult family therapy have? Many! Many families have fallen into unhealthy patterns of interaction, and family therapy can help create new, more positive engagement styles (Next Avenue, 2023; Savra, 2022). Family therapy can help open conversation about difficulties that families are otherwise unwilling to discuss (Ross, n.d.). Family therapy can address changing family dynamics, such as introducing a new romantic partner or caring for aging parents. Negotiating new roles with the help of an objective bystander can help promote more productive interdependence and functioning. Other benefits of family therapy might include increasing respect and understanding, boundary defining, enhanced communication, processing of past hurts, and more (O2 Counseling, n.d.). Family therapy is designed to be a safe place to heal, whether it be for adults, children, or a mix.

When should adults consider family therapy? Anytime! Family therapy is a resource at all ages and stages. In fact, many families return to this service time and time again, using it to enhance and enrich their relationships at various stages of life.