When it comes to adolescent mental health treatment, family therapy for teens is often just as important as individual and group therapy for a sustained recovery. 

Family plays a crucial role in the teen years. And if a teenager is struggling with their mental health, the love, support, and involvement of trusted family members can make all the difference in outcomes. Teens who do family therapy tend to engage more fully with their treatment program. They’re also more likely to complete it. 

So, how does family therapy work for teens? Learn more about teen counseling and family therapy below, including the unique benefits of family therapy for teens during (and long after) residential treatment. 

What is Family Therapy?

Family therapy, or family counseling, is a form of talk therapy that brings together patients with close family members to discuss their individual and collective challenges. Much of the focus of teen family therapy is on improving communication between caregivers and kids, as well as understanding how family dynamics may be impacting a teen’s mental health. 

Note that “family” in this case does not have to mean immediate family. Rather, anyone who plays a supportive role in a teen’s life may be invited to participate, including those who don’t live in the teen’s household. 

How Does Family Therapy Work for Teens?

During a family therapy session, a teen and their loved ones will sit in a room with a qualified therapist and openly discuss the problems they are facing. Specific topics of discussion may include issues with communication, respect, honesty, behaviors, and other sources of conflict. 

The therapist acts as a facilitator and mediator during family therapy, guiding the discussion and smoothing the path to a more productive conversation. This structured approach is integral to the process and is one of the reasons family therapy is so much more effective than family members trying to have these talks on their own. 

Benefits of Counseling and Family Therapy for Teens

Family counseling/therapy has very real benefits for teens, including a 1.4x increase in the likelihood of a teen completing their treatment program. 

Teens who participate in family therapy learn how to navigate various interpersonal challenges that may impact their recovery. At the same time, family members pick up the tools they need to understand and aid the therapeutic process.

In and out of a mental health treatment program, family therapy helps teens:

• Improve their communication skills
• Gain reassurance that they are not alone
• Learn how to set healthy boundaries and respect the boundaries of others
• Manage family conflict in a healthy way
• Feel more understood by their loved ones

There are also benefits for the family unit as a whole. Family counseling supports things like forgiveness, empathy, understanding, and trust, all of which are necessary to those who are most immediately affected by a teen’s mental health condition. 

Explore Teen Treatment Options

Family therapy for teens offers benefits that supplement any inpatient, outpatient, or residential treatment program. 

Done consistently and with the active participation of teens and supportive loved ones, family therapy can amplify the many benefits of mental health treatment and a caregiver’s ability to understand what their child is going through. Both are a must for ensuring that everyone has their mental and emotional needs met during such a trying time. The Ridge RTC residential treatment program provides teens and their families with the qualified support they need to overcome a wide range of mental health conditions. And we’d be happy to talk with you about available treatment options and how families can get involved. Have a question about Ridge RTC treatment services or insurance coverage? Call us at (855) 921-3941 or fill out a contact form for additional information, resources, and support.