Growth Thru Change
Family Therapy in Philadelphia
Family therapy in Center City, Philadelphia. Virtual family therapy sessions are available across Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Our expert family therapists in Philadelphia are here to help you heal, reconnect, and thrive together.
Resolve conflicts & restore family harmony
Improve communication & mutual understanding
Build stronger bonds & lasting connection
I just want us all to get along again.
Lately, every conversation seems to end in frustration or silence. Misunderstandings pile up, and it feels like everyone’s walking on eggshells. You still love each other deeply, but it’s hard to find calm, connection, or clarity in the chaos. The warmth that once held your family together feels distant.
At Growth thru Change, we offer family therapy to help you rebuild trust, open communication, and restore balance in your home. Together, we’ll work toward understanding one another’s needs, healing old wounds, and creating a family dynamic that feels supportive and safe again.
Family Therapy in Philadelphia
Family Therapy Can Help You:
- Restore trust and harmony within your family relationships
- Break patterns of conflict, tension, and miscommunication
- Encourage open dialogue grounded in respect and empathy
- Heal emotional wounds and resolve long-standing resentments
- Strengthen bonds between parents, children, and siblings
- Navigate major life changes or blended family challenges
- Set and maintain healthy boundaries that support every family member
- Build understanding across generations and differing perspectives
- Create a more peaceful, supportive, and connected home environment
Family Therapy in Philadelphia
What Is Family Therapy?
At Growth thru Change, our family therapy is grounded in the belief that every family has the capacity to heal, grow, and reconnect when communication and understanding are restored. Family therapy provides a safe, supportive space for each member to express themselves, explore family dynamics, and address patterns that may be causing conflict or distance. Through open dialogue and guided support, your family can learn healthier ways to communicate, resolve differences, and rebuild trust.
While family counseling is at the heart of what we do, our therapists integrate approaches such as Structural Family Therapy, Systems Theory, Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), and Internal Family Systems (IFS) to support families at every stage. Whether you’re navigating parenting challenges, generational conflicts, or major life transitions, our goal is to help your family restore balance, strengthen emotional bonds, and cultivate a home environment built on empathy, respect, and connection.
Family Therapy Is Helpful in Treating:
- Frequent conflicts or tension between family members
- Communication breakdowns and recurring misunderstandings
- Parenting challenges and behavioral concerns with children or teens
- Emotional distance or disconnection within the family
- Blended family adjustments or co-parenting struggles
- Generational differences and unresolved family patterns
- Grief, loss, or major life transitions affecting family harmony
- Stress related to divorce, separation, or remarriage
- Boundary issues and difficulties with roles or responsibilities
- Long-standing resentment or unresolved emotional wounds
Family Therapy in Philadelphia
Types of Therapies Used for Family Treatment in Philadelphia
Structural Family Therapy (SFT)
Structural Family Therapy focuses on understanding and reorganizing the family’s structure and interactions. It helps clarify boundaries, strengthen parental leadership, and promote healthier communication so that every family member feels supported and understood.
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
IFS helps family members explore their inner emotional worlds and the “parts” that influence their behavior. By fostering self-awareness and compassion, families can move from blame and reactivity toward empathy, acceptance, and connection.
Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT)
EFFT helps families repair emotional bonds and reduce distress by addressing attachment needs. It encourages parents and children to express vulnerability, rebuild trust, and create a secure emotional base that strengthens relationships across generations.
Systemic Family Therapy
This approach views the family as an interconnected system where each person’s emotions and behaviors affect the others. It helps identify patterns of interaction that maintain conflict and teaches collaborative problem-solving that benefits the whole family.
Narrative Therapy
Narrative therapy invites families to reframe the “stories” they tell about themselves and one another. By separating the person from the problem, it allows each member to be seen with more compassion, helping to reshape family identity and dynamics.
Cognitive Behavioral Family Therapy (CBFT)
CBFT combines cognitive and behavioral strategies to address unhelpful communication and thinking patterns within the family. It provides tools for expressing needs constructively, managing emotions, and resolving disagreements with empathy and respect.
Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT)
ABFT centers on repairing trust and strengthening emotional connection, particularly between parents and adolescents. It helps families navigate hurt, rebuild safety, and create a nurturing environment where everyone feels emotionally secure.
Mindfulness-Based Family Therapy
Mindfulness techniques help family members stay calm and present during moments of tension. By practicing awareness and emotional regulation, families learn to reduce reactivity and communicate with greater patience and compassion.
Psychoeducation and Parent Coaching
This approach helps parents and caregivers understand child development, emotional regulation, and effective discipline strategies. It equips families with the skills to navigate everyday challenges and foster a balanced, respectful home environment.
Get Started Today with Family Therapy in Philadelphia
Helping your family grow through change so you can restore balance, rebuild trust, and create a more peaceful, connected home. Visit us for family therapy in Philadelphia or online across Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Dr. Sophia Brandstetter
PsyD, LCSW
Founder & Clinical Director
about Us | Therapy in Philadelphia
Why Work With
Growth thru Change
“It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are.” - E.E. Cummings,
Change is hard. Doing it on your own is even harder. Our mission is to get to the root of the problem that is keeping you from creating a change that allows you to live fully as you.
We provide expert support to help you heal and grow and give you the tools you need to move forward with confidence and a belief in yourself that will carry you through your days.
Our diverse team of expert clinicians offers personalized care backed by extensive experience. We prioritize ongoing professional growth to ensure our therapists provide evidence-based support tailored to your needs.
Specializing in DBT, EMDR, and psychodynamic therapy, we help clients regain confidence, improve relationships, and approach life’s challenges with resilience and clarity.
We support your growth, through change.
Supporting your mental health journey with expert care.
Client-centered care
We tailor our therapeutic approach to meet your specific needs & we create a space where you’ll feel understood & empowered.
Empowerment through insight
We help you understand your thoughts, emotions, & behaviors, giving you the framework to create meaningful, lasting change.
Holistic healing
We address psychological, social, emotional, & relational factors, supporting holistic healing and helping you live life on your terms.
Family Therapists in Philadelphia
Match With a Family Therapist
Our team of experienced family therapists will work with you to support your family’s unique needs and help you rebuild connection and understanding at home. Visit our therapist page to learn more about each team member. In-person family therapy in Center City, Philadelphia, with online sessions available across Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Our Approach | Therapy in Philadelphia
How Family Therapy At Growth thru Change Works
1. Start Where Your Family Is
We begin by meeting your family exactly where you are, without blame or judgment. This is a space to share what’s been happening at home and what’s brought you here, so each member can feel heard and understood from the start.
2. Understand Family Dynamics
Together, we’ll explore the patterns, roles, and communication styles that shape your family interactions. By identifying what’s beneath recurring conflicts or tension, we can begin to understand the root of disconnection.
3. Work Through Challenges Together
Family therapy isn’t about assigning fault; it’s about discovering what each person needs to feel safe, valued, and supported. We’ll guide open conversations that foster empathy, emotional awareness, and mutual respect.
4. Strengthen Bonds with Support
As your family begins applying new tools and ways of communicating, we’ll be here to offer continued support and perspective, helping you celebrate progress, manage setbacks, and grow stronger together.
5. Create Lasting Harmony
The goal is lasting change that brings balance, understanding, and connection into everyday life. Family therapy helps you build the skills and emotional foundation to navigate challenges with confidence and compassion, today and in the future.
Couples Therapy In Philadelphia
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Therapy
What is Family Therapy?
Family therapy is a collaborative, evidence-based process that helps families improve communication, resolve conflict, and strengthen emotional bonds. It provides a safe, structured space where each family member can be heard and understood. With the support of a trained therapist, families learn how to express emotions in healthy ways, navigate differences, and develop tools for problem-solving together. Over time, family therapy helps create a more connected, supportive, and peaceful home environment.
How do I know if family therapy is right for us?
Family therapy may be helpful if your household feels tense, conversations frequently lead to conflict, or certain issues keep resurfacing without resolution. It’s also beneficial during transitions such as divorce, remarriage, adolescence, or grief, when stress or change can disrupt balance at home. Even if things aren’t in crisis, therapy can strengthen family communication and deepen understanding between parents, children, and siblings. If you’re ready to rebuild harmony and connection, family therapy can help your home feel whole again.
Does family therapy really work?
Yes. Research consistently shows that family therapy improves communication, emotional regulation, and relationship satisfaction. Approaches like Structural Family Therapy, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and Emotionally Focused Family Therapy (EFFT) help families identify patterns that create tension and replace them with supportive, empathetic interactions. Many families notice progress within the first few sessions as they begin communicating more clearly and understanding each other’s perspectives. Therapy doesn’t just solve current challenges, it gives your family the skills to handle future ones together.
Why can’t we just “work things out” as a family?
When conflict or disconnection becomes a pattern, it can be difficult to break the cycle without neutral support. Family members often see problems from different perspectives and may not feel safe expressing emotions openly. A family therapist provides structured guidance and tools to help everyone communicate without judgment or blame. Therapy gives your family space to slow down, listen deeply, and rediscover the empathy and understanding that hold you together.
How long does family therapy take to see results?
Every family’s needs are unique. Some families notice improvement after a few sessions, while others may need more time to rebuild trust or address long-standing patterns. Progress depends on how openly each member participates and practices new communication tools at home. Family therapy focuses on creating lasting, meaningful change, helping you build stronger relationships and a healthier family dynamic for the long term.
Can family therapy be combined with other treatments?
Yes. Family therapy can work alongside individual therapy, couples therapy, or specialized approaches like IFS, EFFT, or Mindfulness-Based Family Therapy. These combined methods can enhance self-awareness, improve emotional regulation, and strengthen the overall therapeutic process. At Growth thru Change, we tailor our approach to fit your family’s unique challenges and goals, helping everyone feel supported, understood, and connected.
Is family therapy covered by insurance?
We do not accept insurance for family therapy. While this means you’ll be responsible for the session fee, it also ensures your family’s work remains confidential and free from insurance limitations. Insurance companies typically require a diagnosis for one family member and access to progress notes, which can restrict the focus of therapy. By keeping sessions private, your therapy remains centered on your family’s well-being, not on labels or paperwork.
How much does a typical family therapy session cost?
Our family therapy sessions are $175 each, reflecting our commitment to providing high-quality, personalized care for every household. This investment ensures each session has the time and depth needed to explore each member’s experiences, strengthen communication, and support meaningful change. At Growth thru Change, therapy is customized to your family’s needs, helping you rebuild trust, understanding, and balance, together and at your own pace.
Family Therapy in Philadelphia
Outcomes You May Experience with Family Therapy
With consistent effort and the tools learned in family therapy, your family may begin to experience the following outcomes:
- Communicate with honesty, clarity, and mutual understanding
- Reduce frequent arguments and emotional tension at home
- Strengthen trust between parents, children, and siblings
- Navigate differences with patience and respect
- Feel more supported and connected during stressful times
- Establish healthy boundaries and clearer roles within the family
- Repair emotional wounds and heal past misunderstandings
- Improve cooperation and problem-solving together
- Create a home environment built on empathy, balance, and shared values
Family therapy helps your household reconnect, restore harmony, and build stronger relationships that support every member, today and for the future.
A trusted name in healing journeys
Stories from Our Clients
therapy in Philadelphia
Get Started With Growth thru Change in Philadelphia
If you’re ready to begin therapy at Growth thru Change, you can reach out using our contact form. If you’d prefer to skip this step and get started right away, simply click the button below to schedule a free consultation with the clinician of your choice.
To book an appointment or a free consultation with one of our therapists, click the button below.
Center City
1625 South Street, Philadelphia, PA 19146
East Falls
3580 W Indian Queen Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19129
Virtual therapy sessions are available across Pennsylvania and New Jersey
