Individuals, couples and families seek therapy for a variety of reasons:
- for emotional relief and support in the midst of a crisis
- for treatment of psychological challenges associated with physical or biochemical problems
- to address long-term healing and growth in their character and in their ability to be in relationships
- to manage conflicts
Therapy is also helpful to address life and relationship patterns that no longer work including:
- Lifecycle transitions
- Grief and loss
- Parenting issues
- Couple’s issues/communication
- Questions about spirituality
- Questions about sexuality
- Family of origin issues
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You may be the first to recognize when someone—including you—may need help. These are some distress signals to pay attention to in yourself or in someone close to you:
- feelings of loneliness, moodiness, depression, failure, anxiety
- persistent feelings of dissatisfaction with marriage or family life
- sexual problems or concerns
- unexplainable fatigue
- difficulties in talking with fiancé, spouse, children, parents, other family members, friends, or co-workers
- problems with a child’s behavior, school adjustment, or performance
- the need for tranquilizers, energizers or sleeping aides
- family stress due to repeated illnesses or illness in which stress plays a major role
- a recent traumatic event (death, job loss, accident, injury, divorce, break-up)
- problems with alcohol or drugs
- repeated financial difficulties
- difficulty in setting or reaching goals
- drastic weight fluctuations or irregular eating patterns
- work difficulties, frequent job changes, problems with co-workers
- unmanageable anger, hostility, or violence
Written by Particia Ellen Burgin, M.A., (www.seattlecoach.com) and taken in part from A Consumer’s Guide to Marriage and Family Therapy by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
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