Therapists in 93023
Micheal Frances Smith
Marriage & Family Therapist, LMFT
Verified Verified
Ojai, CA 93023
We’ll begin with your personal story and reflect on how it relates to the story of you in your family and society at large.
Choosing a therapist is not like choosing other medical professionals: there are some specific questions you must ask yourself. Do you feel comfortable in sharing your life with the therapist? Do you feel heard and understood by the therapist? Do you trust the therapist? These are questions a person should ask before deciding who to trust with their life story. I find that it's important to meet in advance to determine if we could make progress together, and I encourage you to ask the above questions of yourself as you speak to me, or any other licensed therapist.
We’ll begin with your personal story and reflect on how it relates to the story of you in your family and society at large.
Choosing a therapist is not like choosing other medical professionals: there are some specific questions you must ask yourself. Do you feel comfortable in sharing your life with the therapist? Do you feel heard and understood by the therapist? Do you trust the therapist? These are questions a person should ask before deciding who to trust with their life story. I find that it's important to meet in advance to determine if we could make progress together, and I encourage you to ask the above questions of yourself as you speak to me, or any other licensed therapist.
DEZ Psychotherapy
Marriage & Family Therapist, MA, LMFT
Verified Verified
Ojai, CA 93023
Douglas was educated in Great Britain and brings a wealth of professional experience from careers in Corporate America and Europe.
Douglas was educated in Great Britain and brings a wealth of professional experience from careers in Corporate America and Europe.
See more therapy options for 93023
Family Therapy
What do family therapists do?
A family therapist facilitates the process of understanding and improving how a family functions. The therapist will help family members develop empathy for one another. They’ll seek to understand existing patterns, misunderstandings, and conflicts that arise, in order to help the family arrive at a realistic, unified understanding and develop the coping skills they need to build stronger relationships.
How long does therapy for families take to work?
Therapy manifests differently in every family; a common time frame is 12 weekly sessions, but some families may see improvement after just a few weeks. Families should discuss their goals with the therapist at the beginning of the process and periodically revisit those goals to assess their progress together.
How can you encourage a family member to attend family therapy?
You can encourage family members to attend therapy by expressing with both love and concern the challenges you see and explaining how a therapist could help the family navigate those challenges together. An outside perspective can help everyone feel heard, get on the same page, and develop new skills. If family members are still hesitant, it may be helpful to emphasize that family therapy is short-term—it won’t last forever.
Is therapy for families effective?
Family therapy can significantly improve family dynamics and relationships. Research suggests that family therapy can help individuals understand their role in the family, communicate and solve problems together, reduce conflict and draw boundaries when necessary, and develop coping skills for stressors, major life changes, and mental or physical illnesses within the family.