AZA United offers Family Therapy that focuses on working with several members of the family to develop strategies that support the whole family’s emotional and behavioral functioning. This program provides psychotherapy and counseling services (commonly referred to as “talk therapy”) for family members caring for individuals with autism or other related conditions of any age. At AZA United, family therapy is provided or supervised by clinicians with expertise in working with individuals with developmental delays, which can be difficult to find in general mental health therapy organizations. Sessions may include the client, which may be an individual with autism, or sessions can happen with only other family members (parents, siblings, grandparents, etc.). Regardless of who is present in a session, family therapy sessions generally focus on meeting the needs of the whole family with an emphasis on collaborative problem-solving.
Program Highlights
Family therapy activities may include:
- Increasing knowledge and understanding of diagnoses
- Improving communication among family members
- Developing strategies and supportive plans to solve challenges as a team
- Increasing understanding of each person’s emotional and behavioral needs
- Consultation with other providers for a consistent approach
Program Overview
Family Therapy helps strengthen relationships, improve communication, and build practical strategies for navigating life’s challenges together. By working collaboratively with a licensed therapist, families can better understand one another, reduce conflict, and create a more supportive home environment that promotes growth, resilience, and overall well-being.
Common reasons for seeking Family Therapy include challenges with:
- Communicating effectively between family members
- Responding to challenges with a consistent approach
- Addressing feelings of guilt, shame, anxiety, depression, anger, etc.
- Ensuring every member of the family receives enough attention and support
Our approach to psychotherapy and counseling combines a number of evidence-based practices, including but not limited to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Interventions, Research Units in Behavioral Intervention (RUBI) Parent Training, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Relationship-Based Therapies. We embrace a collaborative, transdisciplinary approach that includes participation from other professionals working with the family (e.g., social workers, case managers, behavioral health providers, speech and occupational therapy providers, BCBAs, teachers, etc.).
AZA’s Model of Care
AZA United believes that families who are raising an individual with autism will achieve better outcomes for everyone when they are working well together. Family Therapy is a collaborative effort between the therapist, parents/guardians, and other members of the client family. Whenever possible and appropriate, our teams will also collaborate with other service providers and schools. Our family therapy services focus on building a strong therapeutic relationship with our clients and providing neuro-affirming, ethical, and culturally responsive care.
