Tampa Family Therapy

South Tampa Family Counseling by Audrey Clark, LMHC

Adult Family Therapy to Address Challenges and Changes

What is Family Therapy?

Family therapy is a form of group counseling that focuses on improving family relationships. Family therapy can involve any combination of family members, and not everyone needs to participate. Family therapy can help you and your loved ones navigate difficult situations as a cohesive family unit or provide support to an individual family member during difficult times. It can help you cope with major life changes such as caring for an aging parent, adjusting to in-laws, parenting a teenager, or processing a major health diagnosis.

I Specialize in Adult Family Therapy

Not all families who seek counseling in Tampa have school-age children. Individual development is a lifelong process, and behavior changes can occur at any point in an adult’s life, leading to family relationships that change over time.¹ Many adult families can benefit from counseling to better relate to one another as adults, care for aging parents, deal with financial and estate issues, and even resolve cultural differences when new spouses are introduced to the family. I specialize in working with these and many other unique challenges faced by adult families.

Family Therapy or Individual Therapy?

There are significant differences between family therapy and individual therapy. Clients often come to me for family therapy sessions embroiled in conflict they cannot resolve. Part of my role is to offer a therapeutic experience to manage conflict during sessions. However, family therapy is not just focused on addressing conflict – it can be helpful when someone in the family is going through challenges that require the support and understanding of other family members. In fact, involving family members in support of an individual in therapy can bring about some of the greatest opportunities for growth.²  To achieve this, I teach family members techniques to improve communication, along with the skills to help and support a family member in need. This type of psychoeducation is an integral element of family therapy, giving you the insight and tools you need to support a loved one.

There are no “Favorites” in Family Therapy

I respect each family member by allowing individuals to express themselves in a safe, compassionate, and judgement-free environment. I make sure everyone’s thoughts and feelings are clearly expressed so there are no misunderstandings. The therapeutic setting I create serves as a safe space to discuss sensitive topics that might be otherwise difficult without a therapist to guide the conversation in a productive direction. As a professionally-trained and Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) with a Graduate Certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT), I listen to all family members to help you navigate complex family dynamics and identify negative patterns of behavior, the cause of those patterns, and how to break the patterns so you can reach your desired goals together.

Learn more about my background, therapeutic approach, and professional qualifications...

References

1. Wallace PM, Sterns HL. Considerations of Family Functioning and Clinical Interventions. Journal of Gerontology & Geriatric Medicine. 2022.
2. Lawrence RH. Comparing Individual and Family Therapy: Practitioner Perspectives. Smith College, Northampton, MA. 2012.
3. Gentry MT, Lapid MI, Clark MM, Rummans TA. Evidence for telehealth group-based treatment: A systematic review. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. 2019.

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