By MindWise HealthFamily Therapy
2 treatment centers 13 services offered
2 treatment centers on Curivya list Family Therapy, across Alabama and Tennessee. Both also list telehealth appointments. Insurance accepted across these listings includes Aetna, Medicaid Alabama, AMBETTER and Telus formerly Behavioral Health Systems, among others. Plans differ even within one insurer, so confirm your specific plan with the practice before booking. The same locations also list Medication Management, Individual Therapy, Couples Counseling, Kids & Teen Therapy and Telehealth Services.
Family therapy is talk therapy in which members of a family meet together with a therapist. Instead of treating one person in isolation, it looks at how the family communicates, solves problems and responds to stress, because a difficulty in one person usually affects everyone around them, and the reverse is true as well.
Families use it when a child or teen is struggling, after a divorce, death or move, when a parent has a mental health or substance use condition, or when conflict at home has become the norm. Who attends depends on the situation, and not every session needs everyone.
What happens in family sessions
The therapist will want to hear from each person, including children, about what is going wrong and what they would like to be different. Part of the job is making sure quieter members are heard and that sessions do not turn into the same argument that happens at home.
Work often focuses on concrete patterns: how decisions get made, how conflict escalates, who carries which responsibilities, and how the family supports someone who is unwell. Some sessions may be with parents only, or with siblings.
Family therapy alongside other treatment
Family therapy is often one part of a wider plan. A teenager might see an individual therapist and a prescriber while the family meets separately. In substance use treatment, federal guidance from SAMHSA describes involving families as a way to support long-term recovery, and many programs build family sessions in.
If one family member is already in treatment, ask that clinician whether family sessions would help and who should provide them.
When a family member has a serious illness
Family therapy is especially useful when one person lives with a condition such as bipolar disorder, depression, psychosis or a substance use disorder. Sessions can help everyone understand the illness, agree on early warning signs, and work out how to support the person without taking over their life.
It also gives relatives room to talk about their own stress, grief or anger, which often goes unspoken at home. Some families combine therapy with free family education classes or support groups in their community.
Getting started
Not everyone will be eager to come, and that is normal. Many families start with the people who are willing and add others later.
- Ask whether the therapist has experience with your situation, such as teens, blended families or a family member with a serious illness.
- Ask who should come to the first session.
- Ask how the practice bills family sessions and whether your plan covers them.
- If anyone in the home is unsafe, say so at the start.
Common questions about Family Therapy
What is the difference between family therapy and couples counseling?
Couples counseling focuses on the relationship between two partners. Family therapy includes more members of the household, often parents and children, and looks at how the whole family works together.
Does everyone in the family have to attend?
No. Therapists often begin with whoever is willing and able. Some sessions may include only parents or only certain members, depending on the goals.
Is family therapy covered by insurance?
Many plans cover family therapy when it is part of treating a family member's diagnosed condition, but rules vary. Check your plan and ask the practice how it bills family sessions.