Family therapy may be recommended when it is evident that coming together as a whole unit is beneficial in creating new patterns of communication, processing loss, or helping learn about one another in a safe and non-judgmental environment. Family therapy has rules and structure so that people do not feel targeted and new reactions can be learned when talking about challenging topics. In many cases, the entire family will be brought together; however this will be discussed in a prior session based on the ages of the family members and topics at hand.
Attachment Based Family Therapy is a specific modality that may be chosen when working with teens and young adults that have experienced depression, suicidal thinking, or other attachment injuries where there has been a break-down in communication and connection amongst members.