Most behavioral health problems both impact and are impacted by the family. This does not mean, like Freud seemed to suggest, that families (particularly mothers) cause problems, rather problems are maintained within a family sytem. Therefore, working with the family is the most efficient way to address most the problems that people exprience.
The Bellefonte Center for Children and Families offers a range of clinical services focused on helping couples and families effectively navigate challenges that emerge, including problems in adolescence, separation and divorce, and substance use issues.
Free ConsultationGetting started is easy, just complete one of our online forms, email [email protected], text, or call (302-643-2232). We generally call people back within 2 business days and can usually set up an appointment within a week.
Complete the information form, email [email protected], text, or call (302-654-2232) to see how we can help you and your family.
All families are unique so we work to make sure we understand what is happening and develop a plan to help with the problems you’re facing. By the end of the first session, we’ll have a good sense of what will happen next.
For many clients this is often their first time in therapy and almost their first time in couple/marital and family therapy. Below are some questions to commonly asked questions. If you have other questions please let us know.
Recent research suggests that couples can wait, on average, 2.5 years before reaching out for help. So if you think there is a problem it is better to seek help sooner or later. Dr. Bill reaches out personally to ever potential client and if he thinks that therapy is not right for you he will let you know.
A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) is someone who has a least a Master’s Degree in MFT, has had 2-years of supervised experience after graduation, and has passed a national, standardized exam. MFTs are the only behavioral health profession where their training is focused primarily on couples and families. Other behavioral health clinicians, like mental health counselors, social workers, and psychologists, are not required to have family training, and therefore the ability to work with families effectively varies.
We work with a variety of couples and families to assist in the problems they are experiencing. In addition to couple and family therapy, we also offer co-parent counseling and reunification therapy, parenting coordination services, co-parenting assessments, and Discernment Counseling for couples considering ending their relationships.
Couple/Marital and Family Therapy (C/MFT) is an approach that has been shown to be effective for a variety of clinical issues, including depression, anxiety, ADHD, marital issues, substance use disorders, and parent-child conflict. C/MFT is systemic, which means family members are both influenced by and influence other family members. Focusing on the whole family allows for change to happen more quickly and also increases the chances of the changes lasting longer, often benefiting members of the family who initially might not seem to be having struggles.
Family therapy in general is short-term and we believe that helping families get unstuck can happen in a relatively short period of time, generally 3 months or less and about 10 sessions. Early in the process session are scheduled weekly and as things improve sessions are spread out to once or twice monthly depending on how well you’re doing.
In many ways the mechanics of therapy for individuals and for couples and families is similar in terms of confidentiality, ethical standards, documentation, and the mechanism of therapy–mainly talking. The significant difference is that multiple family members are in the room and we can actually get different perspectives on the problem that has been presented. Families are very adept at adapting to the members so if one person starts to struggle the family will naturally adapt to the changes. Sometimes it even looks like family members are “maintaining” the problem. Identifying how the family has adapted can often provide the catalyst to change things for the better.
Drs. Bill and Yulia have 5 decades of experience in couple/marital and family therapy (C/MFT) collectively and have been active in education, training, and supervision around the world. Dr. Yulia’s clinical expertise includes medical family therapy, couples, and older families. Dr. Yulia is fluent in English, Russian, and French. Dr. Bill works with families dealing with separation and divorce, co-parenting, substance use disorders, and parent-child conflict. Drs. Bill and Yulia are also AAMFT Approved Supervisors and work with clinicians at all stages of clinical development
Complete the information form, email [email protected], text, or call (302-654-2232) to see how we can help you and your family.
Read what some of our clients and supervises have said about the services they have received from us.
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