Sirianna Relationship and Sex Therapy is Now Offering Family Counseling!
Our main focus at Sirianna Relationship and Sex Therapy has primarily been relationships and sex therapy. We are excited to announce that we are now offering family counseling!
Family is the first relationship that we experience as children and is one of the most influential relationships in our development. Whether you come from a family of two or a family of twelve, these relationships impact the way in which you see and interact with the world. Our therapist, Katlyn, is passionate about family therapy. Katlyn works with all different kinds of families and welcomes teens, adults, siblings, parents, and grandparents. Every person in a family plays a vital role and deserves to have their needs, wants, and voices heard. As therapists, we understand that the word “Family” can have a different meaning to each client that we encounter. For this reason, we feel that it is imperative that our clients tell us what family means to them. We are not here to dictate what family should or should not look like. We help our clients navigate the intricacies of family in order to create the family dynamic that they desire. Here are a few words from Katlyn about what family means to her:
When I think about family, I think about people coming together to share thoughts, feelings, and quality time. It took my family time, effort, and hard work to get to the point where we were able to navigate difficult emotions and communicate effectively with one another. I enjoy working with families because I get to watch family members learn how to work together and collaborate on what they want their family to look like, sound like, and feel like. Creating a healthy family dynamic is not something that happens overnight. It takes time, communication, consistency, and curiosity. Most families who invest in improving their dynamic find that the process can be very rewarding.
As a therapist, I feel honored to work with families on this journey. I teach my clients that it is ok to have different perspectives and opinions from one another. I help them identify ways for each individual to feel safe, heard, loved, and valued. Many families struggle to truly hear what their family members are saying or feeling. I encourage families to slow down and focus on core feelings and needs instead of getting caught up in details. When members of a family are struggling it can often result in anger, sadness, tension, or confusion. This can result in family members unintentionally getting their feelings hurt. I help families explore these difficult moments by giving each family member an opportunity to express their feelings and needs while the other family members listen. I then teach the family members how to acknowledge and validate the needs and feelings of each member.
This does not mean that everyone needs to understand or agree with the feelings and needs being shared, but they do need to validate what the individual is sharing. I help each family identify what they need to feel safe in difficult conversations and/or situations. For individuals who struggle to express their feelings verbally I encourage them to use a family journal, write each other notes, or schedule a weekly family meeting. This gives teenagers, parents, or extended family members the opportunity to share their thoughts in helpful and productive ways.
I come from a family who experiences and expresses big emotions and that is often loud. Everyone in my family has a role that they play such as peacekeeper, introvert, storyteller, leader, and opinionated individual. Like any other family, we have had a few holiday meltdowns, we have occasional arguments, and we hurt each other’s feelings from time to time. That being said, I am proud of the work that our family has done, and we all know that the role we play is valued and that we are loved. I have three sisters, so growing up there were a lot of emotions in our house, but we also had a lot of fun with one another. My family is big and loud, but my family is also loving and supportive. It takes a lot of work to get everyone in a family to understand one another, communicate their feelings with one another, and to be supportive. My family has done a lot of work to get where they are today. I am proud of the space that my family holds and of the work that each individual has put in over the years.
I enjoy working with families because I can help them explore their boundaries, family roles, and help them learn how to communicate in healthy ways. I enjoy watching the progress that families make along the journey through the use of tools, effective communication, and self-discovery. If you are someone who would like to improve the dynamic in your family, I would love to work with you.
