Child and Family Counseling

Child and Family Counseling in Asheville

Ideally, the family provides a safe retreat and a place of support for all of its members.

But sometimes families can get pretty complicated, because each family member is also an individual with their own needs, interests, temperament, and roles. So there are times when one person's desires don't fit well with the needs of other family members or the the family as a whole.

Challenges also occur because families are not a group of equals, but rather have parents with more power, responsibility, and authority than the dependent children.

And families are not static. They are constantly shifting and changing, especially related to the developmental stages of the children.

So it's not surprising that families often have challenges and difficulties. Of course, not all family difficulties require counseling. But, sometimes the usual ways for dealing with conflicts in the family do not work or communication and cooperation may be seriously breaking down. At those times, counseling for members of the family or the whole family may be helpful. And as with most problems, making adjustments in families or with children is usually easier when it is addressed early.

The approach I use when counseling with a child, parent, or family varies depending upon each family's unique circumstances. I have worked with hundreds of children and families over the past 35 years and will draw on that experience to make recommendations about the most effective approach for counseling with you or your family.

Call to schedule a free introductory meeting. (828) 686-9601

Counseling Links

"Nobody has ever before asked the nuclear family to live all by itself in a box the way we do."
Margaret Mead

"Don't demand respect as a parent. Demand civility and insist on honesty. But respect is something you must earn -- with kids as well as with adults."
William Attwood

"The family you come from isn't as important as the family you're going to have."
Ring Lardner

	<<< use these links to navigate the counseling section
	Counseling Approaches
	The approach we use in your counseling will depend on several factors, including the types of issues your family is facing, the ages of the family members, the willingness of members to participate, and the parents' goals for counseling. Most often counseling will follow one of four basic approaches listed below, although sometimes a combination of them is most effective. Parent - Child Counseling When a younger child (approximately ages 6 - 12) is having difficulties, counseling usually involves the child and one or both parents participating in the sessions together. The child's confidentiality is limited, meaning the parents are typically fully informed of information the child shares. Adolescent Counseling When the primary counseling need is with an adolescent, there generally will be a significant amount of time spent meeting with the child alone. To be most effective, counseling with adolescents often requires a greater degree of confidentiality be offered to the child. The degree of confidentiality is specified and agreed to by the therapist, child, and parents at the beginning of counseling. There may be a benefit to periodically having sessions that include the parents, especially as the child becomes ready to address and resolve issues with them directly. Family Counseling Family counseling usually involves all of the family members participating in the sessions together. There are times when this approach is the most effective, especially when the family communication has really broken down or the family's difficulties come from an underlying situation that has affected the whole family (new blended family, loss or grief, family move, etc.) Occasional family counseling sessions can sometimes also be beneficial as a part of child or adolescent counseling. Parent Counseling and Consultation Parents hold unique position within a family and there are times when it is most effective to meet with them alone. For instance, this may be the best approach when parents have differing parenting styles or two families are being blended together. Sometimes parent counseling is the more effective approach, even when the primary concerns are with a child's behavior. see parenting page
	The first session: what to expect
	Once you have taken the step to begin counseling, you'll probably be eager to get right into the issues that have been on your mind. As a therapist, I share that desire. However, there are a few things that will need to be completed at the beginning of our work together. Please follow the link below to get some information about what to expect at your initial session.
	More Information about Your First Session