A single individual is complicated.
A couple, even more so: We’re looking at each partner’s individual needs and patterns, and then considering how they work together. From a math perspective, we’re not just adding–we’re multiplying exponents.
A family?! Kids and grandparents and siblings and–I think you get the idea. The network suddenly got much larger, and thereby much more complex.
Not only that, but no two families are quite alike. Age, constellation (composition of family members), economic position, culture and immigration history, trauma histories, parenting and discipline styles, love languages, attachment styles, religion and spirituality, divorce and remarriage; it all plays a role in shaping the family’s dynamics. Families have lore.
This means that different families will have different needs, when it comes to family counseling. Perhaps everyone still loves one another–they just struggle to understand each other. Perhaps there’s been a lot of pain, and folks are only just now ready to explore reconciliation. Maybe one or more families have divided and are trying to reform in new configurations, but it’s hard because blending families means navigating complex dynamics.
Whatever the situation is, family counseling offers a place to create guided structure and safety in exploring repair, connection, and solutions. As a child of divorced and blended families who has personal experience with repairing generational wounds, I know deeply the importance of having a family counselor who will listen first–before making assumptions based on outdated family conventions.
At Bluebel Counseling, I offer family counseling in-person at my office in Cincinnati, Ohio. Virtual support for families located elsewhere in Ohio may be explored via a consultation.
These might sound like a lot to work through on your own–impossible, even. I offer you this: You’re not alone, and there is hope.
Family counseling can support a wide range of concerns, including:
Not every family arrives in crisis. Many seek family counseling because they care deeply about one another and want to build healthier ways of relating.
One of the things I notice most often is that family members are usually trying to meet important needs—they’re simply doing so in ways that unintentionally create more conflict.
Caregivers may be trying to prepare their children for adulthood.
Children may be trying to communicate distress without yet having the words to do so.
Adult children may be seeking independence while still longing for acceptance, pride, or a safe home base.
Everyone makes sense from where they’re standing.
Part of my role is helping family members become curious about one another’s perspectives rather than assuming the worst about each other’s intentions.
When people feel understood, conversations often begin to change.
Many families are looking not only for family therapy, but also for guidance in navigating the day-to-day challenges of parenting.
Parent coaching offers a collaborative space to explore questions such as:
Rather than offering one-size-fits-all parenting advice, I work with families to develop approaches that fit both the child and the family as a whole.
Depending on your family’s goals, counseling may include:
Not every session includes every family member. Sometimes meeting with parents independently or alternating between different family members can best support the family’s overall goals. We’ll discuss together what structure is likely to be most helpful.
Many, many families have one or more neurodivergent members. In fact, if there is one, there are likely to be more. Perhaps you or others in your family are already aware of this–or perhaps you’re just beginning to wonder. Maybe this is the first you’ve even heard of neurodivergence! (If this is you, Nick Walker offers an excellent overview of the terms neurodiversity, neurodivergence, neurotypical, and more here.)
The main point is this: neurodivergence exists as a word because enough people were identified as undersupported by the dominant society that it could not be ignored any longer. Not all folks are neurodivergent the same way, either. Challenges associated with this could include:
(You see the pattern here?)
When we know what we’re dealing with, we can figure out how to accommodate everyone. As a neurodivergent and informed clinician, I look for this and where appropriate, offer insight and an opportunity to explore further.
Not necessarily. Depending on your goals, some family counseling sessions may include the entire family, while others may focus on parents or individual family members. We’ll decide together what approach best supports your family’s needs.
All ages! Family counseling can involve parents (or caregivers) with younger children, adolescents, adult children, blended families, or multiple generations. During our consultation, we can discuss how my practice might be a fit for your family's needs.
Great! Much of my work involves helping families better understand ADHD, autism, giftedness, and other forms of neurodivergence—not simply from an educational perspective, but in terms of how those differences affect everyday family life and communication. We look to the Neurodiversity Paradigm (more on that from Nick Walker here), which views neurodiversity as normal and neurodivergence as something to learn about and support–not something to be “fixed”.
No. My role isn’t to determine a winner. My goal is to help family members better understand themselves, understand one another, and develop healthier ways of communicating and relating.
It depends. Generally, I offer both in-person counseling in Cincinnati and telehealth throughout Ohio. However, family work is complex and benefits from having everyone in the same room with the therapist. This is especially true when young children are involved, as this grants them more ready access to play (the primary language of childhood). However, we may consider telehealth if it is not possible for all family members to attend in-person sessions.
Note: If using telehealth, all participating family members must be in the state of Ohio at the time of services rendered. You must also be in a safe, private location with a strong Internet connection. No malls, no driving, no open-walled library rooms, etc. :)
That’s common. We can discuss different options during a consultation and determine what approach is likely to be most productive given your family’s circumstances.
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