Many Americans seek counseling services for various problems with thoughts, behavior, mental illness, and more. There are many types of counseling including marriage counseling, substance abuse counseling, and adolescent therapy. Another kind is family counseling. A family therapist may meet with an individual or with multiple members of the same family at once. The therapist will address the issues at hand and help the family understand their problems and cope with them better. What kind of issues might lead to seeking family therapy? 

Family Adjustments 

Various changes in the home can lead to problems that a family therapist can help you work through. For example, suppose the parents have recently divorced or are preparing to divorce. Therapists can help the troubled family members cope with the changes. For another example, a remarriage might have happened or may happen in the near future. Children in the family will have to adjust to a step-parent and maybe step-siblings. A third example is grief and loss. If a family has been bereaved--that is, they lost a family member or a loved one that was close to the family--they may benefit from family counseling. 

Substance Abuse 

Substance abuse is the misuse or overuse of substances such as drugs, nicotine, and alcohol, often leading to addiction and serious consequences in life. Perhaps one family member has issues with substance abuse; hopefully, he or she will be attending individual therapy or rehab, but the rest of the family may also need help adjusting to the changes caused by major substance abuse in the household. Alternatively, a family may have a history of substance abuse, either in their genetics or in the lives of the current family members. In this case, everyone would benefit from family counseling to learn about substance abuse and learn other ways to handle stress. 

Illness in Family Member 

Sometimes, families seek counseling when one of the members has a serious illness. Examples are cancer and/or terminal illnesses. It is difficult for people to see a loved one suffering from a chronic sickness, and it's even worse if the family knows that the individual may die prematurely. Depression, anxiety, and anger issues may come to light, making it very important for the sick individual and the rest of the family to get help. On a related note, one family member might have been diagnosed with a mental illness or a developmental disorder that leads to behavior problems and family trouble. In both cases, a family therapist can help. 

To learn more, contact a company like Counseling Services of Beaverton.