Dysfunctional families can include families that have a history of a) physical/sexual/verbal/emotional abuse, b) drug/alcohol/love/sex addiction, c) neglect, d) physical handicap, e) eating disorders, f) chronic physical/mental illness, g) religious toxicity, h) divorce, i) codependency, j) chronic shyness, k) insecurity,, l) issues of control and/or perfection, m) difficulty with intimacy, and n) low self-esteem present anywhere in the family. Although emotional pain and stress are a part of everyone's life experiences, many individuals grew up in families where stress and pain occurred. As adults, these former children with issues of dysfunction have special needs, issues, and dilemmas. Often, they feel isolated in their struggles and continue to use the same dysfunctional patterns that ultimately lead them to problems in adulthood. One of the treatments of choice for such individuals is GROUP therapy, which aims at: 1. Educating and recognizing dysfunctional patterns, scripts, and roles. 2. Learning appropriate skills for healthy independent relating. 3. Providing a safe environment in which individuals can resolve conflicts and concerns. 4. Integrating the new skills and beliefs into daily life.
TASKS OF RECOVERY
1. Coming out of denial, numbness, and avoiding reality. 2. More realistic acceptance of life and full acknowledgment of one's control issues. 3. Active exploration of issues underlying co-dependency, including grieving the loss, repairing, reparenting, and healing. 4. Allowing the integration of new beliefs to change behaviors. 5. Participating in the creation of one's own world.
In this type of group, individuals discover what has happened to them and what is happening now in a growth oriented environment. They begin by symbolically recreating in the group what happened to them as a child. With the help of the therapist and other group members they discover the roles they play and how these roles determine the kind of world in which they live. Group members are helped to see how they recreate childhood dynamics and how these dynamics affect his/her relationships in the group. They go through a process of self discovery through which they learn to let go of the "survival patterns" which are held over from his/her childhood. Individuals can expect to get in touch with feelings they have been denying such as anger, sad, hurt, scared, vulnerability, shame, humiliation embarrassment, love, etc. From involvement in the group, individuals will be able to make his/her own choices. Many stages of feelings that were never allowed to be expressed openly and directly in the family will be worked through. With practice and discipline, individuals can learn to function fully as an adult, independent of the effects of his/her childhood injuries and begin a new life.
Group Sessions are 90 minutes and $110 per session. Group is limited to 7 members with 3 available spots at this time. Insurances accepted: Aetna, Unitedhealthcare, Optum.