what we offer

What is relational vs. individual therapy

Relational therapy (couple and family therapy) focuses on the multiple individuals and relationships that make up a family unit. Relational therapists focus less on the individuals and more on the patterns, dynamics, and environment of the systems the individuals are in. These systems are most often their families, their work teams, their cultural groups, and their community. A relational therapist will tune into these various systems the individual is a part of to best understand how to make and sustain change.

Individual therapy tends to have a narrow focus on the client in the office and the issues that bring them to session. On the contrary, a relational therapist acknowledges that an individual is a single member of a much more complex family system. Relational therapists know that an individual cannot be understood in isolation. Instead, they are most fully seen when the richness of their unique life is explored. An individual’s various systems greatly impact their successes and struggles.

Our therapists are trained to focus on each client’s relational dynamics: We understand that how you feel you’re doing at work impacts how you feel at home, that your relationship with your parents when you were young impacts how you identify with your role as a parent, and that often times problems within your marriage overlap with problems in your co-parenting. Our relationally trained therapists are skilled in identifying these dynamics and addressing their impacts on the patterns that bring you to therapy.

Family therapy most often includes all the members of the family, even those that are less than willing or able to participate (such as reluctant teens and babies). Having all the players present helps the therapist understand the full scope of the patterns at play.

Systemic therapy

Systemic family therapy focuses on the multiple systems that each individual is a part of, and how those systems impact the person's experiences interacting with the world, as well as how the world interacts with them. Your teenage daughter is a part of your immediate family, your extended family, a member of her friend group, a resident of the village of Oak Park, a student at Oak Park River Forest High School, and a teammate on the lacrosse team. On a larger scale, she is a part of the systems that she culturally identifies with - her age, race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. All of these dynamic and shifting systems make up who she is, how she relates to others, and how others relate to her. Systemic therapy is successful because the therapist is in tune with the impacts and pressures from these various dimensions of identity.

Systemic therapy empowers individuals and families to recognize the impact these various systems have had on them and helps those individuals better understand the ways they can better thrive within these systems. Systemic therapy also focuses on the patterns that keep individuals and families feeling stuck, and it helps adjusts these patterns so that long-lasting change can be achieved. Rather than isolating an individual in a therapy office and disregarding the rest of their world, Empower Family Therapy greatly values the depth and richness of systems, and harnesses their influence to create long-lasting change. All staff at Empower Family Therapy are trained in systemic therapy and use this lens and approach in their work with clients.

fish bowl

Still confused on why a relationally trained therapist is a better fit for you? Let's use a fish and a dirty fishbowl to further illustrate what we mean:

Imagine that you have a fish, and both the fish and the bowl are dirty. You may start by taking the fish out of it’s dirty fish bowl and then cleaning the fish off. Once the fish is clean, would you put it back in the dirty fish bowl? NO! You would clean the fish bowl and then put the clean fish in the clean bowl. The whole environment matters. A therapist must address the family system itself, to create a more supportive and sustainable environment for each individual member to flourish.

Empower Family Therapists address the environment and the individuals that make up the family unit. This systemic approach empowers clients and creates long-lasting, sustainable change.

Empower Family Therapy is a welcoming community, and we believe that everything in therapy is related to culture. We are aware that your culture impacts the way you view the world, the way the world views you, and your experience in seeking therapy. We invite our families into the discussion of culture in the first session, and every subsequent session, in a diligent effort to provide the best care. We look forward to providing quality therapy services to you regardless of your race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, ability, class, or aspects of your culture. We value the inherent right of every individual to desire happiness and health, regardless of their background or challenges. Empower Family Therapy utilizes a person-centered, culturally systemic model to effectively incorporate cultural factors into treatment.

Therapy is a difficult journey for many as their comfortable patterns and behaviors are analyzed and challenged in hopes of seeing change. Those that succeed in therapy are open-minded to new strategies, willing to try new methods, and dedicated to their scheduled treatment. Therapy is client-led, meaning your therapist will not carry you. Their role is to walk alongside you, at your pace, with guidance and support.

What’s the first session like?

In the first session your therapist’s main focus is to get to know your family, gain a clear understanding of what you’re looking to change, and learn more about why you're looking for help now. Your therapist will guide you through the expectations of therapy: both what your therapist expects of you, and what you can expect from your therapist. You will discuss confidentiality, different policies, and get your other questions answered. Next, your therapist will assist you in determining your goals and you will make a plan to achieve those together. Check out Tina’s video on what to expect from your first call to your first session with empower family therapy! In subsequent sessions be prepared to laugh, cry, stretch, grow, and reach goals you thought were impossible.

what will we work on?

Most importantly, your therapist will work with you and your family to achieve goals you have determined. The therapist will address topics such as communication patterns & styles, parent & child expectations, responsibility, trust, fair & loving consequences, family routines & distribution of household duties, power dynamics & family structure, and what you'd like your family legacy to be & how to go about living your family legacy. Your therapist will provide you with tools to address these issues, and will assist you in practicing and implementing them for future success.

Will i just talk about my problems or will i learn skills & tools?

We don’t underestimate the power of expressing oneself and talking through events and concerns that a client may not have verbally processed before. But, therapy is more than just a venting session. Our team is highly trained in, not only being great listeners, but also helping clients find new outcomes to their most troubling patterns. Empower Family Therapy encourages families to maintain appropriate focus on their strengths and their abilities to reach their desired goals. We are committed to creating and reinforcing hope in the midst of problems. Your therapist will assist you in identifying your strengths, and coach you through shifting your problem-focused outlook to one that has more room for hope and opportunity. Some people spend years in therapy reliving the problematic past without ever moving towards the future.

We are a skills-based practice, meaning we pride ourselves on making sure that every client leaves their sessions feeling heard & empowered with tools. Our goal is to provide clients with the skills and tools they need to help themselves find a new path out of whatever has them feeling stuck. You will leave therapy with a fully-equipped tool box of coping skills and communication skills.

What about CONFIDENTIALITY?

You have the right to keep all information regarding your treatment private. Your engagement in services will not be disclosed by your therapist without your written permission. For youth 12 and under, guardians have the right to see or know what is put in their child's records. Information will be shared without client consent in situations of someone saying they are going to hurt themselves or someone else, if there is any concern or belief of abuse or neglect, or if you request services to be covered by your insurance via a superbill receipt. Your therapist may be receiving supervision from a trusted mental health professional to assure they are providing you the best care, and your name may or may not be changed during this case presentation. Empower Family Therapists will further discuss confidentiality more in-depth in your first session.