Family Therapy in West Palm Beach, Florida

Family Therapy and Counseling: Creating Connection, Healing Conflict, and Restoring Balance

Not everyone gets along all of the time. Family conflict can happen when family members have different views or beliefs that clash. No matter what’s brought you here, I want you to know that your family can grow through this through family therapy. If you are looking for how to get help for families in conflict, the tools, support, and clarity are all within reach.

I am Dr. Susan Christiansen, Ph.D., LMFT, and my role as a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist is to guide families back toward connection, empathy, and healthier patterns of interaction. Whether you’re coping with divorce, behavioral concerns, generational rifts, or simply struggling to get along, family therapy offers a structured, compassionate space for healing.

Families are where we first learn love, communication, trust — and sometimes, pain. When tension grows, roles break down, or communication turns to conflict, it can feel overwhelming. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, I’ve spent decades working with families across West Palm Beach and Palm Beach County to work through these challenges together.

Peaceful resolution needs skills in open, two-way communication, negotiation, compromise, and respect for the other person’s point of view. Transitioning from one stage of life to another is often a time of additional stress and conflict.

Seek professional advice if you think you need help to resolve long-standing issues of conflict. Call me, Dr. Susan Christiansen, Ph.D., LMFT, now at (561) 688-8787(561) 688-8787 or complete my online form to request a free introductory call.

Key Takeaways

• Dr. Susan Christiansen, Ph.D., LMFT provides family counseling and therapy to address and heal family conflicts both online and from her office conveniently located in West Palm Beach, FL.
• Dr. Christiansen’s family therapy approach is emotionally informed and solution-focused, incorporating various treatment modalities.
• Dr. Susan Christiansen provides therapy and counseling for families of all structures and cultures, navigating conflict, transitions, or emotional disconnection.
• Through professionally-guided family counseling, families suffering from conflict can restore communication, improve understanding, and rebuild harmony.
• Easily request a free introductory call with Dr. Susan Christiansen, Ph.D., LMFT by phone at(561) 688-8787(561) 688-8787 or through the online form.

What is Family Therapy?

Family therapy is a form of counseling that addresses the emotional, behavioral, and communication dynamics within families. Rather than treating individuals in isolation, family therapy looks at the relationships and interactions that shape behavior and well-being.

In my practice, I work with families of all kinds: parents, children, blended families and siblings, co-parents, multicultural and multigenerational households. The goal isn’t to assign blame. It’s to create understanding and empower each member to contribute to healthier dynamics.

Family therapy sessions may focus on:

• Parent-child conflict
• Adolescent behavioral issues
• Divorce, remarriage, and blended family stress
• Communication breakdowns
• Chronic illness or grief
• Mental health conditions impacting the family
• Intergenerational trauma
• Boundaries and roles

Using structured conversation, conflict resolution strategies, and emotionally focused techniques, we work together to restore balance and nurture your family’s emotional health.

Key Benefits of Family Therapy

1. Improve Communication and Understanding

One of the most common complaints I hear is, “We don’t know how to talk to each other anymore.” Family therapy helps rebuild those lines of communication. Together, we:

• Identify common misunderstandings
• Develop healthy listening habits
• Teach respectful ways to express needs and emotions
• Practice using neutral, non-blaming language

Effective communication is foundational to emotional safety. With practice, even difficult conversations become easier and more productive.

2. Reduce Conflict and Emotional Tension

Chronic arguing, resentment, or passive-aggression can make home feel like a battleground. Family conflict counseling provides a safe environment where conflict can be addressed constructively, not emotionally weaponized.

3. Support Through Life Transitions

Families evolve. Births, deaths, divorce, aging parents, relocation, and more can shake the foundation of your daily life. Family therapy helps each member process the transition, build coping skills, adapt to new roles, and find stability again to adjust to life changes. This may involve new environments and some changes in family dynamics in the short term and the long term so your family members regain control with emotional well-being.

4. Address Behavioral Challenges with Children or Teens

If your child or adolescent is struggling with emotional outbursts, isolation, school issues, or defiance, there’s often a deeper story. Rather than focusing solely on behavior, through a strategic family therapy approach I help the family identify root causes and systemic influences so the change we pursue is sustainable.

• Strengthen parent-child relationships
• Explore unmet needs behind behavior
• Empower consistent and compassionate boundaries

5. Promote Mental Wellness Across the Family System

When one family member is struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, low self esteem, substance abuse/addiction, or any of a variety of mental health issues, the entire family is impacted. As a licensed mental health counselor, I provide mental health services to address family members’ mental well being and help you build resilience together through coordinated family treatment.

From treating depression to couples therapy and mental health counseling through a combination of individual therapy, group therapy, and structural family therapy, I provide a therapeutic environment to address the ripple effects and support each person’s emotional health.

How Family Therapy Works

Step 1: Initial Consultation

Our work begins with an intake session, either with the whole family or with primary caregivers first. We discuss the family structure, core concerns, goals, and what each member hopes to change.

Step 2: Assessment and Relationship Mapping

We may use tools like family genograms, communication pattern assessments, or individual check-ins to better understand relational roles and recurring challenges.

Step 3: Establishing Goals

Each family is unique. Together, we define goals that may include improved communication, more cooperation at home, healthier boundaries, or emotional healing after a conflict or trauma.

Step 4: Active Counseling Sessions

Family sessions typically last 50–60 minutes. We may meet with the full family or subsets (e.g., parent-child dyads) depending on the issue at hand. Sessions focus on building insight, practicing new communication tools, and working through real-time issues.

Step 5: Progress Monitoring and Support

Throughout the process, we check in on goals and make adjustments. I may provide reading materials, practice exercises, or referrals to individual therapy when needed. My role is to support your family in developing sustainable, positive changes.

Who Needs Family Therapy?

Family therapy isn’t only for families in crisis. It’s for any group of loved ones who want to relate to each other in a healthier, more connected way.

I work with:

• Families experiencing frequent conflict or emotional shutdown
• Blended families navigating remarriage and step-parenting
• Families coping with divorce or shared custody stress
• Households with adolescent behavioral challenges
• Adult siblings managing aging parents or estate concerns
• LGBQ families managing outside stressors
• Families navigating trauma, grief, or illness
• Co-parents working toward peaceful collaboration

If your home feels tense, disconnected, or filled with unspoken resentment, family counseling services can help you find your way back to one another.

Why Choose Dr. Susan Christiansen for Family Therapy in West Palm Beach?

My Experience & Education

With a Ph.D. in Humanities and Social Science and over 20 years of clinical experience, I’ve worked with hundreds of families across Palm Beach County. My background in marriage and family therapy gives me the tools to look beyond symptoms and explore the deeper dynamics shaping family life.

I’m trained in Systemic Family Therapy, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Structured Family Therapy, Solution Focused, and Trauma-Informed Care just to name a few. My approach is collaborative and client-centered, grounded in both theory and real-world experience.

Proven Success

Many families who come to me in pain leave with a new sense of hope, understanding, and resilience. Past clients often share that sessions helped them reconnect, resolve longstanding tension, and approach each other with empathy.

My Unique Approach

No two families are the same. I tailor each session based on your family’s culture, values, communication styles, and goals. Whether you prefer structured interventions or reflective conversation, we create a rhythm that works for your family.

My office is a judgment-free space where every voice matters, from the youngest to the oldest. I emphasize safety, inclusivity, and compassion at every step.

Comprehensive Support

Healing doesn’t end when the session does. I equip families with the tools to continue their progress at home, such as communication exercises, emotional regulation strategies, and suggested reading or resources. I’m also happy to coordinate with schools, medical providers, or other professionals involved in your family’s care.

Ask Questions About Family Therapy or Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Susan Christiansen, Ph.D., LMFT

Family life doesn’t have to feel like a constant struggle. Whether you’re navigating conflict, change, or disconnection, you don’t have to go through it alone. Your family deserves care, and I’m here to help.

Call me, Dr. Susan Christiansen, Ph.D., LMFT, now at (561) 688-8787(561) 688-8787 or complete my online form to request a free introductory call. Let’s work together to restore peace, understanding, and closeness in your home.

Helping Palm Beach County clients achieve peace and harmony since 2000