At the OSU Couple and Family Therapy (CFT) Clinic, we offer family therapy to help families navigate challenges, improve communication and strengthen their relationships. Our therapists use a systemic approach, which means we consider how each person’s experiences are shaped by their relationships, family dynamics and broader social and cultural systems.
What to Expect in Family Therapy
Family therapy involves working with multiple members of a family to address concerns that affect the family as a whole or individual members. We work with families across the lifespan including those with young children, adolescents, young adults, adult children, adult siblings and relatives, caregivers, and more!
Common reasons families seek therapy include:
- Communication difficulties
- Parenting challenges
- Life transitions (e.g., divorce, relocation, illness)
- Grief and loss
- Behavioral or emotional concerns in children or teens
- Conflict between family members
Our goal is to create a safe, supportive space where families can work together to build understanding, resolve conflict and grow stronger.
Working with Subsystems
As part of the family therapy process, your therapist may meet with smaller parts of the family system—such as a parent and child, two siblings or an individual family member—for one or more sessions. These are called subsystem sessions, and they are designed to support the goals of the full family therapy process.
These sessions are not separate from family therapy—they are part of the overall treatment plan and are used to better understand and support the family as a whole.
Confidentiality in Subsystem Sessions
Subsystem sessions are generally confidential, meaning information shared will not be disclosed to anyone outside the therapy process unless:
- Required by law
- All members of the treatment unit (the full family or couple) provide written consent
Because these sessions are part of family therapy, there may be times when it is appropriate to share information from a subsystem session with the full family. Your therapist will use their best judgment and, when possible, will invite the individual(s) involved to share the information themselves.
If you have concerns or topics that you feel must remain completely private, we encourage you to speak with your therapist. In some cases, it may be appropriate to seek individual therapy in addition to family therapy.
Our Commitment to You
We are committed to providing respectful and culturally responsive care to all families. Our therapists are trained to work with a range of family structures and backgrounds, and we tailor our approach to meet your family’s unique needs and goals.
