How To Bring Up Your Family Dysfunction In Therapy

If you want to work on family dysfunction, look for a therapist with these qualifications and ask these questions:

• Look for someone who has these qualifications:

They are a licensed therapist in the state where you live. Different states have different titles (like LMFT, LCSW, LMHC, and Licensed Psychologist).

• Make sure they have experience with family relationships

This will be clearly displayed on their website. Look out for content related to family dynamics.

• Look at their social media

Most therapists have a professional social media presence. Look them up and spend some time getting to know their expertise and what they’re interested in. The right therapist will spend time talking about adult child-parent relationships and family dynamics.

• Ask these questions (the ones that apply) on the consult call

How do you help adult children and their parents?

Is your goal always reconciliation and forgiveness for adult children and their parents?

How do you work with different family dynamics?

How do you integrate family culture, race, and ethnicity into therapy?

Do you work with the individual, or can I bring my parent or adult child to therapy?

• How To Bring It Up With Your Therapist

“I want to discover my role in maintaining the dysfunction in my family and learn how I can move out of that role.”

“I want to come up with a plan to bring up a dysfunctional pattern in my family.”

“I pointed out the dysfunction in my family, and I need help navigating the aftermath.”

“I’m worried about repeating dysfunctional family of origin patterns in my own adult life.”