Types of Therapy
Therapy for couples
When a couple comes to therapy, their relationship becomes the focus. Most therapists conduct the initial evaluation with the couple followed by an individual meeting with each person before they hold a second session with the couple. This ensures that both people have the same goals for therapy. The couple will then meet with the therapist to begin the change process. Occasional individual counseling sessions are sometimes a part of the couple’s therapy.
Therapy for families
When a child or adolescent engages in behaviors that disrupt family harmony, it is recommended that the family unit attend counseling sessions.
Sometimes they exhibit negative behaviors to unconsciously create healing in a family. The therapist will work together with the family to develop modifications that will promote understanding and cooperation. Thus, the family is part of the solution and the symptoms the child originally brought to therapy are reduced.
Therapy for Children
Children under 14 years of age will be involved with both individual and family therapy. This will allow both the child and the parents/guardians to have a voice in what needs to change. The therapist will also help the family to develop a behavioral plan to replace the child’s negative behaviors with constructive ones.
When a child in counseling does not reside with both biological parents due to separation, divorce or remarriage, WWC has an ethical and a legal obligation to inform the non-custodial parent that the child is receiving counseling.
Children 14 years of age and above have reached the age of consent in mental health treatment; therefore, these children can request no parental involvement in their therapy sessions and deny parents/guardians access to their medical records. At WWC, we find therapy to be more effective when the parents/guardians and other family members can be involved if needed. In these cases, therapists may recommend that clients have both an individual and family counselor.
