Monday – Friday: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm
2489 Tapo St. Suite B 
805-774-1506
This blog answers your question on when to start family therapy in Simi Valley. You may be living near Simi Valley, such as in Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, or Northridge. In general, you’re looking for a family therapist in Ventura County or near Los Angeles County. With differing schedules, finding the right fit for everyone can be tricky.
You may be wondering if now is the right time to start family therapy. In reality, there’s never a better time to start than right now. Taking action to address complicated issues makes progress towards resolving them. By getting the ball rolling, you can begin to see change and relief in your family.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, almost 90% of patients see an improvement in their emotional health after starting family counseling. Nearly 66% of patients see an improvement in physical health. Finally, about 73% of parents see positive changes in their child’s behaviors.
Family therapy isn’t for everyone. If one family member is reluctant, it can cause family conflict. Therefore, it’s important to have everyone on the same page for getting started, or giving it a shot. Continue reading to learn more about when to start family therapy in Simi Valley!
Major life transitions happened or are happening
Life comes at us quickly. As we’re going through the motions, it can be hard to anticipate difficult times or events. We’re focusing on a lot of things throughout each day. This includes job security, finances, family planning or care, and more. Our relationships, our friendships, and being able to squeeze in time for ourselves.
Life transitions are defined as significant changes or shifts as we move from one stage of our lives to another.
Common examples of life transitions include:
- Divorce or separation.
- Loss of a loved one.
- Moving away to college.
- Starting a new job or career path.
- Having a baby.
- Accidents that leave you injured.
- Having an empty nest.
- Retirement.
- Leaving an abusive relationship.
- Financial problems.
- Identify exploration.
As you can see, there’s a lot that can qualify as a life transition. We may not be financially prepared for an accident that drains our wallet. A sudden death may occur that sends surprise and shockwaves through the family unit. You may be a first-time parent, learning how to care for your infant everyday.
Life transitions can induce stress and affect our mental health. According to PsychologyToday, they can induce symptoms such as anxiety, fear, loneliness, and physical issues.
So, how can family therapy help everyone cope with life transitions? Depending on your unique scenario, there are ways that everyone can benefit. Being able to talk with a third person, with no connection to your family, can help with resolving the issue more effectively.
Your family therapist will not have biases towards the family, and will look at the situation with purely facts. They will navigate through issues compassionately and non-judgmentally. Therefore, all family members have opportunities to feel seen and heard for what’s going on.
Life transitions often require the process of grieving and processing difficult emotions that come with it.
We have various resources on family therapy near Thousand Oaks. Make sure to read this blog on 4 Reasons to Start Family Therapy. We also break down what family therapy entails in this blog: What is Family Therapy?
Discussing it among yourselves has proven difficult
You and your family members have tried sitting down to discuss difficult topics. This could range from anything to parenting to managing your parent’s estate after their passing. As expected, everyone may have different feelings and reactions. You may have frequent disagreements with each other, and are stuck in a cyclical conversation.
Holding space for each other has proven difficult. You each may be set in your own beliefs and values. This makes it difficult to see others’ perspectives, and affects the ability to empathize with them. With this, it’s hard to begin implementing or promoting growth in yourselves, and each other.
By working with a family therapist, everyone has the opportunity to discuss what’s coming up for them. In the room, everyone’s feelings are valid and considered. Your family therapist will work to ensure that conversations are managed with care.
At times, therapy can feel like a stand still. You leave sessions feeling productive, while others leave you questioning if therapy is even working.
These are normal ebbs and flows of the therapeutic process. You may not be aware of the progress you’re making, or have made so far. In family counseling, it’s important to reflect upon how far you’ve come together. There’s always room for growth, and your family therapist helps explore that.
Consider reading our blog on Coping with Toxic Family Members. In some cases, seeking out individual therapy in Simi Valley is a good start towards healing.
Create an agreement with all family members to attend therapy
The idea of starting family therapy may not be thrilling to some. There could be (valid) fears of judgment. One family member may feel singled out, and that the family therapist will have a misunderstanding of who they are.
It’s important that all family members feel comfortable and open to starting family counseling. As previously mentioned, it can create family conflict if not. We want family therapy to feel like a safe space for everyone. A safe space is one where you can truly express yourself.
If a family member isn’t entirely open to the idea, consider starting individual therapy in Simi Valley first. In the case that your family member is curious, they can try the one session to see how it feels. There is no commitment to a certain number of sessions.
Gather information to schedule your first meeting
Scheduling your first meeting can feel a little tricky. This is especially true if all attendants are adults, with differing schedules and responsibilities. Things like work, hobbies, or family care are needed to be taken into consideration. For family therapy with teens, school or sport schedules also apply.
Ensure you all can set aside at least 3 different times and days for availability. Gather information from the family therapist, such as the fee, whether they take insurance, and their openings. Understand how payment will be split, such as between cards or designating someone as the primary payee.
Finally, agree upon core topics you’d all like to discuss. This may include processing grief, parenting, processing change, and more. From there, your therapist in Simi Valley will build rapport, establish goals, and track progress.
Click here to read about how to be an emotionally supportive parent to your kiddos.
Starting family counseling can feel like an overwhelming process. At New Leaf Counseling, we make the process thorough and transparent. Contact us today for a free consultation on teen therapy, family therapy, or individual therapy near Thousand Oaks, Ca.
In-person therapy in Simi Valley is ideal for those seeking a separate, safe space from their home. Check out our blog on Online Therapy or In Office Therapy to understand what format is best for you. Another great blog to read is ours on if you need Therapy or Medication to address your issues.
By seeking out support, you can begin your journey to feeling relief. You don’t have to go through finding the right level of support alone, either. By clicking here, you’ll read our blog on Information About Simi Valley Therapists.
Consider calling our therapy group at (805) 774-1506 for a free consultation on how you or a loved one can get started today!
Seek out a validating, safe environment with us today. We will help you get to where you want to be. Our therapists provide trauma therapy, teen therapy, individual adult therapy, LGBTQIA+ therapy, anxiety therapy, depression therapy, family therapy, and more in-office in Simi Valley, CA.