Asheville Marriage and Family Therapy, or couple and family therapy, is a contemporary psychotherapeutic approach that collaborates with families and couples to instigate positive change and growth. It delves into the dynamics between family members, recognizing their pivotal role in psychological well-being, and acknowledges the influence of intergenerational trauma and historical systems of resilience.
In the diverse landscape of family therapy, a shared belief persists that involving families in solutions, regardless of whether the issue is perceived as individual or family-related, often yields beneficial outcomes. Active participation in therapy sessions allows family members to contribute their strengths, wisdom, and support to the broader system, with therapists skillfully guiding conversations.
Initially defining families in narrower terms, encompassing parents and children, family therapy has evolved to embrace a broader concept. This now includes strongly supportive, long-term roles and relationships, irrespective of blood or marriage ties, while also recognizing the impact of intergenerational trauma on family dynamics and exploring historical systems of resilience.
Family therapists, particularly those rooted in family systems theory, have developed conceptual frameworks applicable not only to traditional family dynamics but also to organizational dynamics. Additionally, they explore the impact of historical systems of resilience and intergenerational trauma on current family dynamics, expanding the scope of their approach.
Utilizing various counseling techniques, family therapy includes:
• Structural therapy: Identifying and reorganizing the family system
• Strategic therapy: Analyzing interaction patterns among family members
• Systemic/Milan therapy: Focusing on belief systems
• Narrative Therapy: Shifting dominant problem-saturated narratives and emphasizing context
• Transgenerational Therapy: Addressing the transmission of unhelpful patterns of belief and behavior over generations.
The number of sessions varies, with an average ranging from 5 to 20. Family therapists often meet with multiple family members simultaneously, revealing differences in perception and interaction patterns. These patterns not only mirror habitual interactions at home but also provide insights into the impact of intergenerational trauma and historical systems of resilience.
The defining feature of family therapy lies in its perspective and analytical framework, prioritizing the dynamics between individuals and acknowledging the impact of intergenerational trauma and historical systems of resilience. Family therapists are relational therapists, emphasizing what transpires between individuals and generations. The approach remains solution-focused, seeking to address and resolve problems while recognizing the resilience embedded in historical systems. Circular problem evaluation is favored over a linear route, aiding families in identifying behavior patterns, understanding their causes, and exploring strategies for improvement in the context of intergenerational trauma and historical systems of resilience.
Trauma is not what happens to us, but what we hold inside in the absence of an empathetic witness.
Peter A. Levine
ABOUT WELL PEOPLE THERAPY
Lane Simmons is a NC Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, offering trauma-informed relational psychotherapy, and serving Asheville, NC and all of Western North Carolina