This blog is written by the clinicians at Jonah Green and Associates, a mental health practice based in Kensington, MD that provides quality services for children, teens, families, and adults. It is intended as a resource for families who are seeking to expand their knowledge about mental health and mental health services, and also as a resource for families who are seeking quality mental health services, especially in the mid-Atlantic region.
“The space between The tears we cry Is the laughter keeps us coming back for more.” —Dave Matthews Band, The Space Between It takes immense courage to come to therapy. Individuals reveal thoughts and feelings that may make them feel embarrassed and confront realities they have long avoided. For families, barriers may be even higher.
In previous posts, I’ve shared how family therapy fosters collaborative dialogue—a way of speaking and listening that builds emotional safety, deepens connection, and makes it easier to solve problems together. Most people begin family therapy hoping to resolve specific challenges: emotional distance, parenting disagreements, financial tension, in-law stress, or behavioral issues with children. While your
While family therapy is primarily a method for helping families resolve conflicts and enhance their relationships, it can also alter how individuals perceive and speak to themselves. As family members communicate more openly and listen with compassion, they begin to embody that kind of understanding and kindness within their minds, transforming their internal dialogue and
The prospect of beginning a stepfamily (or a “blended family”) can be exhilarating, especially because stepfamilies often form after losses such as divorce or death. Successful stepfamilies combine enthusiasm with a conscious, step-by-step process that considers the family’s complexity and each family member’s unique needs.
Many parents who separate send their children to individual therapy, which can help them process their feelings and cope with new realities. Another option, either in addition to or in place of personal therapy, is family therapy. Because the nuclear family is ending, family therapy for divorcing families may strike parents as an oxymoron. What