Family Therapy
In-person therapy in Charlotte, NC
Online therapy throughout NC, SC, and CO
Understanding Family Therapy
At Resilient Roots Counseling & Consulting, we recognize that mental health and behavioral struggles often impact the entire family, and healing is most effective when the whole family is part of the journey. Family therapy is a vital part of our approach because it helps to strengthen communication, resolve conflicts, and rebuild trust. We understand that family dynamics can be complex, and sometimes, members need support in understanding each other’s perspectives, setting healthy boundaries, or navigating difficult transitions.
Whether you're dealing with a crisis, managing ongoing challenges, or simply seeking to improve relationships, family therapy offers a space for everyone to be heard, supported, and empowered to create positive change together.
Some common issues in family therapy include:
Children's behavioral problems and defiance
Sibling rivalry and constant fighting
Communication breakdowns between family members
Discipline disagreements between parents
Blended family adjustment and step-relationships
Teen rebellion and parent-child conflict
Family roles and boundary confusion
Grief and loss affecting family dynamics
Major life transitions disrupting family stability
Generational patterns and toxic family cycles
Therapy Can Help
We understand that family dynamics play a significant role in mental health and well-being.
That’s why we emphasize the importance of family therapy as part of our holistic approach to treatment. We dive deeper in understanding how patterns of behavior within the family contribute to challenges and how new, healthier behaviors can be developed.
Our therapists work with families to identify and address specific behaviors that may be causing conflict or distress, teaching practical strategies to improve communication, set boundaries, and promote positive change. We guide families through the process of breaking negative cycles and reinforcing positive behaviors, all while fostering a supportive and collaborative environment.
Whether you're dealing with a behavioral issue, navigating a crisis, or looking to improve family relationships, our behavioral approach helps create lasting change for a healthier family dynamic.
*We do not go through insurance or submit out-of-network superbills for family/relationship counseling. Read more under the FAQ section.
Our Approach to Family Therapy
Natalie Thomas, LCSW, LISW-CP, ACS
Founder of Resilient Roots Counseling & Consulting
Family therapy allows everyone a seat at the table. I firmly believe that just working with a child on behavioral challenges or coping skills without caregiver input isn't beneficial—it should be a collaborative effort.
I've been working with families since 2021 in my private practice, and even earlier during my time in schools and community mental health. My graduate school concentration was in Children and Youth: Risks and Healthy Development, so many of my courses involved understanding and navigating family systems. During my time at Jefferson Center for Mental Health, I was specifically on the Family Systems team, which deepened my understanding of how family patterns contribute to individual challenges.
What I love about family therapy is the collaborative nature of the work. My approach comes from a behavioral lens, and I support both the child and caregivers in the process.
I work with families who typically struggle with consequences, enforcing rules, and creating consistent structure, helping everyone develop skills that benefit the whole family system.
I'll be honest—family therapy can be frustrating at times due to navigating different personalities, schedules, and varying beliefs about what the "real problem" is. I address concerns directly and remind families of my role when needed. I won't be an investigator or take sides, so family sessions become the space where I can hear all perspectives.
Despite these challenges, I find this work incredibly rewarding. Whether you're dealing with behavioral issues, navigating a crisis, or simply wanting to improve family relationships, my goal is to help everyone feel heard while creating healthier patterns that benefit the whole family system. When families learn to work together effectively, the transformation affects every aspect of their daily life.
Improve Your Family Dynamics Today
What to Expect in Our Therapy Sessions
When working with us for family therapy, you can expect an approach that focuses on creating practical solutions and consistent patterns that benefit everyone in the family.
In our sessions, we'll work on:
Understanding everyone’s perspective and role in dynamics without taking sides
Identifying specific behavior patterns that contribute to ongoing challenges
Developing clear, consistent rules and consequences that all caregivers can implement
Teaching practical skills to all for better communication and conflict resolution
Creating predictable family structures that help children feel secure
Practicing new approaches to challenges like chores, homework, and sibling conflicts
Building collaboration so you're working together toward common goals
You'll develop not just immediate solutions to current problems, but also the skills and systems needed to handle future family challenges. Many families find that once they establish consistent patterns and everyone understands their role, daily life becomes much more peaceful and manageable for everyone involved.
Client Successes
"While I have so many examples of improved family dynamics it's hard to pick just one, an overwhelming theme I see is that caregivers become much more consistent with setting rules and enforcing consequences, which ultimately helps children because they're able to exist in a more predictable system.
I'm thinking of one family where the parents were constantly frustrated because their 10-year-old would ignore chores, talk back, and have meltdowns when asked to do basic tasks. The parents were inconsistent—sometimes they'd let things slide when they were tired, other times they'd explode over small issues. Through our work together, we developed clear, consistent consequences that both parents could implement the same way every time. Within a few months, the child's behavior improved dramatically, not because they were 'fixed,' but because they finally understood the family rules and could predict what would happen.
My main approach comes from a behavioral lens, supporting both the child and caregivers simultaneously—and once we create that predictable structure, everyone in the family benefits."
— Natalie Thomas, LCSW, LISW-CP, ACS
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Create the Peaceful Home You’ve Always Wanted.
Transform your family dynamics from chaos and tension to connection and understanding. Build a household where everyone feels heard and respected.
Frequently Asked
Questions
About Family Therapy
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While the child is technically my client, I believe in a collaborative approach that involves caregivers from the very beginning. I work with families who understand that successful change happens when everyone is on the same team. However, I do respect children's need for some individual processing time, so sessions might include both family time and some individual time with the child, depending on their age and the specific concerns we're addressing.
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Caregivers aren't just observers in family therapy—they're active participants in the healing process. I teach coping and behavioral management skills to both children and parents, provide psychoeducation about what we're working on, and help families practice new communication patterns together. Since I only see your family for an hour or two each week, I need caregivers to help support and reinforce the skills we're learning during the other 166 hours of the week.
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This is incredibly common and exactly why family sessions are so valuable. Rather than me trying to piece together different stories or take sides, family sessions allow everyone to share their perspective in the same room. I won't be an investigator or decide who's "right"—instead, I help families understand each other's viewpoints and work together toward solutions that address everyone's concerns. Often, what seems like completely different problems are actually different angles of the same underlying family dynamic.
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Not necessarily. The specific family members involved may vary depending on the issues we're addressing and what would be most helpful. Sometimes it's beneficial to have the whole family together, other times we might focus on parent-child dynamics or work with siblings separately. However, I do believe that the primary caregivers should be consistently involved since they play such a crucial role in implementing changes and supporting progress between sessions. We'll determine the best approach based on your family's specific needs and goals.
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From the Blog
Posts on Family Therapy Topics
