Complex Family Therapy

Complex Family Therapy is our unique approach to family therapy when a family system is going through complicated and difficult situations.

The goal of Complex Family therapy is to rebuild or maintain family connections when there has been strain or a break in relationships.

Families may be ordered by court systems to engage in a family therapy process. This may be for co-parenting work, parent- child relationship work or whole family system work. It can also be used when relationships have been disrupted due to deployments, illnesses, incarceration or other types of separations.

Complex Family Therapy seeks to understand the emotional and relationship needs of everyone involved and work towards appropriate relational restoration. Often, the process will begin from a painful and anxiety filled place where trust has been broken and the relationships are uncomfortable.

At Watermark, we begin the process by assessing the unique needs of every family member and the family system as a whole. We build a customized treatment plan and follow a process to begin to make relational repairs. Frequently, multiple therapists are involved and collaborate in the process to allow for everyone to have their own therapeutic advocate. Additionally, our therapists can serve as a Parenting Coordinator in a complex situation to be sure everyone is staying on track.

We work hard to repair past hurt, establish trust, and build new, healthier attachments.

Complex Family therapy is not a tool to be used as a legal process strategy, to establish testimony, or for legal discovery. In order to achieve restoration, we strive to work collaboratively with GAL's, attorneys, and other professionals involved in each situation where it is appropriate and helpful.

Our Process

We always begin by meeting both adults in the family, individually. Then we have an initial meeting as a group to cooperatively establish agreed upon goals for the process. Once goals or a plan are place, we move into the therapeutic phases where there are typically two therapists involved: one as a Parent Coordinator who works with the adults, and the second clinician who works with the children. When children are not directly involved, the process may occur between the adults. These processes occur alongside each other with active communication between the therapists and other relevant parties. When the family is ready, we all come together in the therapy room and engage in family therapy to address concerns, issues and rebuild trust and relationships. This is a challenging process, there is usually felt stress for everyone involved. It’s important to note that we do not force children into situations that could result in additional trauma. Our goal is to help identify a path forward and facilitate the complex process of relational repair. Finally, we often continue work with families who have had success in this process to provide ongoing maintenance or support, as needed.

Our general approach to family therapy utilizes tools from theoretical orientations such as (but not limited to) family systems, trauma informed cognitive behavioral therapy, play therapy, CBT, ACT, and cognitive processing therapy approaches.

Outcomes vary in all situations; we aim to create as much emotionally healthy contact as possible in family relationships.The therapist will often advise on what healthy contact may look like in a family system.

If you are a legal professional and would like further detail about our process, please CLICK HERE.