Mental Health Services Teaneck NJ

Family Therapy Teaneck NJ

Why does my family need therapy?

Specializing in Families with Children that has ASD, ADHD or ODD

Is this you and your family?

How can we stop fighting about the same things all the time?

Why does every argument end badly, with no solution?

Why do we keep fighting and blaming each other all the time?

Why do I feel so disconnected from my family?

In your family you…

Constantly argue
Fight over small things
Have Parent-child power struggles
Argue over parenting styles
Don’t feel close to each other

“No one is given an instruction manual for our family”

Schedule a session

Why Family Therapy Can help

What does family Therapy provide?

Improve Communication within your family
Therapy helps family members learn how to listen to each other better and talk openly about feelings, which can reduce misunderstandings and arguments.
Educates to create healthier boundaries
A therapist can guide the family in setting clear, respectful boundaries that allow each member to feel safe and valued.

“Being in a family as a child or a parent is not easy. ”

Strengthen Family Bonds:
Family therapy works on building stronger connections, helping family members feel closer and more understanding of each other.
Helps stop negative behaviors:
Therapy can help identify unhealthy patterns in communication and behavior, like criticism, manipulation, or control, and teach healthier alternatives.

Family Therapy Methods

Focus: This method examines the structure of the family system and the roles each member plays. It identifies boundaries, hierarchies, and subsystems (such as parent-child relationships) to understand the dynamics that may contribute to family issues.
Goal: To restructure dysfunctional family patterns, establish clear boundaries, and improve communication, helping the family function more cohesively.
Focus: This method is action-oriented and focuses on identifying and changing specific behaviors and communication patterns that contribute to family issues. It’s often short-term and goal-focused.
Goal: To change unhealthy behavior patterns by developing strategies to shift interactions and relationships within the family.
Focus: This therapy sees problems as separate from individuals. It helps families reframe and re-tell their personal and collective stories, enabling them to gain perspective and move past issues by understanding them in a different light.
Goal: To create a new, healthier narrative that empowers the family members and helps them solve problems together.
Focus: Developed by Murray Bowen, this method emphasizes the intergenerational transmission of behaviors and emotional responses within families. It explores family history, differentiation of self (the ability to maintain emotional boundaries), and the impact of anxiety within the family system.
Goal: To reduce anxiety and improve individual differentiation, helping family members manage their emotions and create healthier boundaries.
Focus: This therapy method focuses on how thoughts and behaviors affect emotions and interactions. It helps families identify negative thought patterns that lead to dysfunctional behavior and teaches new coping strategies.
Goal: To change negative thinking and behavior patterns to improve family communication and relationships.
Focus: EFT works with the emotional bond between family members. It focuses on attachment needs and helps families understand the emotional responses that contribute to conflict or detachment.
Goal: To strengthen emotional bonds and improve family relationships by enhancing emotional expression and attachment security.
Focus: Rooted in the idea that families operate as systems, this method examines the interconnectedness of family members and how patterns of behavior affect the whole unit. It looks at roles, communication, and the overall family structure.
Goal: To improve family functioning by addressing systemic issues and making changes that benefit the entire system.
Focus: This approach is highly cooperative, with the therapist acting as a facilitator to help family members collaborate and find solutions together. It emphasizes shared decision-making and mutual respect.
Goal: To empower family members to collaborate and solve problems by working together in a respectful and constructive manner.

Click to Learn more About Family System Therapy

How Compassionate Empowered Counseling Can Support Your Family Through Therapy

What is family therapy, and how can it help us?

Family therapy is a space where each member of your family can come together to address conflict, improve communication, and strengthen relationships. At Compassionate Empowered Counseling in Teaneck, NJ, Jamie helps families navigate challenges with empathy and structure—bringing her extensive experience in parent-child relationships to support your unique family dynamic.
What are common reasons families seek therapy?

Families often seek therapy when they are struggling with:
Communication breakdowns
Sibling rivalry or behavioral challenges
Parent-child conflict
Divorce, separation, or co-parenting difficulties
Blended family adjustment
Grief or major life transitions
Jamie helps families untangle these issues by fostering understanding and connection between all members.
How does your experience with children help in family therapy?

Jamie has worked closely with children and their caregivers for years, both in therapeutic and educational settings. She understands how kids communicate (often without words), how stress impacts their behavior, and how to bridge the gap between what children feel and what parents hear. This allows her to facilitate productive, age-appropriate conversations in session and provide tools that truly work at home.
What can we expect in a typical family therapy session?

Each session at Compassionate Empowered Counseling in Teaneck is tailored to your family’s needs. Jamie may meet with the whole family together, with specific members individually, or a mix of both. Sessions often include open discussions, guided exercises, and communication tools—always grounded in respect, structure, and emotional safety.
What if only one family member wants to come to therapy?

That’s okay. Sometimes one person begins the process, and others join later. Change often starts with one individual, and Jamie works with families to build motivation and trust so that participation feels safe, not forced.
Can therapy help with parent-child relationship issues?

Absolutely. Rebuilding trust and connection between parents and children is one of Jamie’s specialties. Whether it’s conflict, disconnection, defiance, or emotional distance, therapy can help both parents and children better understand each other and create more respectful, loving interactions.
How do you help with discipline or behavior issues at home?

Jamie approaches discipline from a relationship-based, emotionally attuned perspective. Rather than focusing on punishment, she helps parents understand the why behind a child’s behavior and build tools rooted in connection, consistency, and communication. You’ll learn strategies that support your child’s development while maintaining your authority with empathy.
Can family therapy help blended families adjust and connect?

Yes. Blended families often face unique challenges—such as loyalty conflicts, differing parenting styles, or unclear roles. Jamie creates a supportive space where everyone can express their experience and work toward building trust, unity, and shared expectations.
How do you support families going through divorce or co-parenting challenges?

Jamie supports families during and after divorce by helping parents reduce conflict, improve co-parenting communication, and support their children’s emotional well-being. Whether you’re sharing custody or parenting separately, therapy can help you prioritize what matters most: your child’s stability and sense of security.
What if my child is resistant to talking in therapy?

That’s completely normal—and something Jamie is very experienced in handling. She uses creative, non-threatening approaches like play-based conversation, drawing, or storytelling to help children feel comfortable. Over time, even the most hesitant kids usually find their voice in the therapeutic space.
How do we know when therapy is working?

Signs of progress often include better communication, reduced tension at home, improved emotional regulation, and a stronger sense of connection. Jamie also helps families track small wins and reflect on growth together. Change takes time, but each step is meaningful—and celebrated.

Call for a complimentary 15 minute consultation

Jamie, the lead therapist at Compassionate Empowered Counseling, brings years of specialized experience working with families, including deep work with children, parents, and parent-child dynamics. Her warm, relational approach creates a safe space for each family member to feel seen, heard, and valued—while helping families reconnect, communicate, and heal.

Our Services

Family Therapy

Are you struggling with family communication or emotional distance? As a family therapist in Teaneck, NJ, I help you achieve these goals. Together, we'll work on improving communication, resolving misunderstandings, and creating a more connected, resilient family.

Family Therapy
Marriage Counseling

Do you want to rebuild trust, ease conflicts, or strengthen your relationships? We offer a unique and powerful way to address relationship dynamics by integrating both psychological and biological perspectives.

Marriage Counseling
Postpartum Depression

The transition to parenthood often brings changes in intimacy, communication, and relationship dynamics. Let’s work together to help ease this transition.

Postpartum Depression
Trauma Therapy

When you’re inner child is suffering you are suffering. Whether you're facing life transitions, parenting challenges, or emotional stress, I’m here to guide you toward a healthier, more harmonious family dynamic. Let’s start your journey to lasting change.

Trauma Therapy