Exceptional Families

 Your family has special needs, your family is exceptional. It is made up of individuals trying to make their way through this beautiful, complicated life. Whether each of you need your own individual support, or you need comprehensive family support, my goal is to be here for you to help you grow stronger, happier, and more complete.

parents

"I NEED TO PUT MY CHILD'S NEEDS FIRST."

Sound familiar? Time and time again, parents (especially parents of children with special needs or behavioral challenges) say this. Between school, activities, shuttling to and from therapies, and just trying to make it to the end of the day, taking time for yourself is not at the top of your priority list. And it keeps falling lower on the list every day, even though you know you need to take care of yourself. And so you will... next week. Maybe? Or maybe next week you'll be too busy too and you'll try in a month or so?

It is okay to take time for you.

For more information check out the individual counseling and couples counseling pages.

siblings

"I'm okay."

As a sibling of someone with special needs, you have learned to take care of yourself. You have learned to allow your needs to be met last, and you have worked hard to be strong.

You try really hard to be "okay".  Maybe you're an overachiever.  Maybe you act out.  Maybe you wish sometimes that someone would just see you for you, instead of seeing you as your sibling's sibling. I see you. I am here for you.

Siblings of children with special needs are at higher risk for anxiety and depression and lower self-esteem and self-concept than siblings of children without special needs.  

Allow yourself the opportunity to really be seen and heard.

For more information, check the individual counseling and play therapy pages.

families

"We're getting by."

Your family life is a blur of days. You all exist in the same space, but may rarely have time to focus on each other. Sometimes you wonder if you all even like each other.

How connected do you feel to the people in your family? How about with your spouse? Strain in family relationships is not uncommon, but you want to do something about it.  That's a huge step in the right direction!

Family therapy can help individuals within the family system to connect and improve relational functioning, or it can address the family as a whole.  Your family is complex, and the relationships within it are complex.

Learn how to support each other. Attend to the foundation that holds you all together.

For more information about family counseling and couples therapy, click here.