Healing Family Connections
Family Counseling That Brings You Closer Together
Families often find themselves in need of a guide when situations become overwhelming and communication breaks down. In family therapy, we work with all members to identify unhelpful dynamics and develop healthier ways of relating to one another.
Family therapy can help with:
- Parent-child relationship difficulties
- Sibling conflicts
- Blended family adjustments
- Communication improvements
- Behavioral concerns
- Family transitions (divorce, moves, etc.)
Our family therapists create a balanced environment where each family member feels heard and valued as you work together toward positive change.
Your Family Therapy Journey
What to Expect in Family Therapy
Initial Assessment and Understanding
Your family therapy journey begins with getting to know your family system. In these initial sessions, we’ll explore your family’s strengths, challenges, and goals. Each family member will have opportunities to share their perspective in age-appropriate ways. This foundation helps us understand your unique family dynamics and create a therapeutic plan that addresses your specific concerns while building on existing strengths.
Building Skills and Creating Change
As therapy progresses, we’ll work together to identify unhelpful patterns and practice new ways of communicating and problem-solving. Your therapist will guide conversations that might be difficult to have at home, helping family members truly hear and understand each other. We’ll introduce practical skills you can use between sessions, creating positive momentum and immediate benefits. For families with children, we may incorporate play, art, or other engaging activities to facilitate expression and connection.
Integration and Growth
Throughout your family therapy journey, we’ll celebrate progress and address new challenges as they arise. Many families attend weekly or bi-weekly sessions for 3-6 months, though this varies based on your unique situation. As your family develops stronger communication skills and healthier interaction patterns, sessions may become less frequent. Our goal is to help your family develop the tools to navigate future challenges successfully, long after therapy ends.
Related Services & Approaches
Related Family Support Services at Renewed Stories
Many families find that complementary approaches enhance their family therapy experience. These related services can provide additional support for specific family members or address specialized needs within the family system.
- Individual Therapy – Supporting personal growth for adult family members
- Child Therapy – Specialized support for children’s emotional needs
- Teen Therapy – Helping adolescents navigate identity and independence
- Couples Therapy – Strengthening the parental relationship at the core of many families
- Parenting Support – Building effective parenting skills and strategies
Our Family Therapy Specialists
Bonnie June Willey
LMHC, MHP
I have over 26 years of experience helping adults, teens and children in addressing their mental health goals. I'm licensed in both WA and ID and hold additional certifications and training in CBT for Psychosis, Trauma Informed CBT, EMDR, EFT, DBT, Adoption Support and Family Systems Therapy.
Jessica Kaluza
LMHC
I help couples and families who struggle with communication and conflict find paths toward understanding and connection. With specialized training in premarital counseling and adoption-related concerns, I approach therapy through experiential and attachment-based methods, including Gottman Therapy and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT). My goal is to help you build stronger, more fulfilling relationships based on mutual understanding.
Annie Gerut
LMHCA
I will tailor counseling methods to align with what works best for you, ensuring personalized support for your growth and progress. I take a collaborative, relational approach, drawing from Person-Centered Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), and Strength-Based therapy, all grounded in attachment theory.
Kristin Benson
LMHC
Known as ‘KK,’ I am a Nationally Certified Counselor, I specialize in helping children, adolescents, and adults navigate life challenges including anxiety, depression, and trauma. With training in Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, I create a safe, supportive environment where you can explore difficult emotions and develop practical coping strategies for lasting healing and growth.
Bill Frye
LMFT
I specialize in helping couples rebuild connection when communication has broken down. I also have expertise guiding couples through the difficult decision of whether to sustain or end their relationship. Using Gottman Therapy and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), I work with challenging issues including sexual addictions, infidelity, and developing effective co-parenting strategies. For individuals, I provide sand tray therapy for children and LifeSpan Integration therapy for those working through past trauma. Trained in Gottman Therapy and Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT), I have extensive experience guiding couples through challenging issues, including sexual addictions and infidelity. I see individuals on a limited basis offering sand tray therapy for children and LifeSpan Integration therapy for those working through past trauma.
Tegan Brindley
LMCHA, LMFTA, NCC
I'm passionate about supporting people through life's varied challenges—whether you're navigating difficult transitions, relationship problems, overcoming trauma, managing anxiety or depression, or seeking greater self-awareness. Using person-centered, emotionally focused approaches, I create a space where you can explore your experiences and develop tools to thrive in all areas of life.
Caitlin Hill
LMFTA
Human beings share an intrinsic need for connection, understanding, and meaning through our relationships with each other. When these bonds suffer from repeated conflict, negative assumptions, and misunderstandings, it can leave you emotionally exhausted, caught in patterns of anger and resentment that seem impossible to escape. If you find yourself wondering whether you and your partner can truly know each other, or feel defeated by persistent disconnection without tools for meaningful change, you're not alone—and I'm here to help you rediscover the path to understanding and intimacy in your most important relationships.
Triana Willmert
Pre-Licensed LMFT
I create a warm, inviting space where you can take courageous steps toward growth. I believe therapy should feel approachable and judgment-free—a collaborative journey where you can explore life's challenges exactly as you are. Whether you're navigating relationships, transitions, or feeling stuck, I'm committed to supporting you with compassion as we uncover your strengths and work toward meaningful change together.
Murray, Certified Therapy Dog
Registered Canine Good Citizen (CGC)
As a Therapy Dog certified through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs and Canine Good Citizen with the American Kennel Club, I work alongside Bill Frye, LMFT to provide comfort and grounding to clients experiencing emotional distress. When not helping clients, I enjoy swimming, playing keep away, snacks, naps, and making new friends. (Available exclusively with Bill Frye's sessions.)
Frequently Asked Questions about Family Therapy
Does everyone in the family need to attend each session?
While we typically recommend that all household members participate in the initial session, subsequent sessions may involve different combinations of family members depending on the therapeutic goals. Sometimes we’ll work with the whole family, sometimes with parents, sometimes with siblings, or in other combinations. Your therapist will recommend the most effective arrangement for addressing your family’s specific concerns.
How do you engage young children in family therapy?
For younger children, we use age-appropriate approaches including play, art, and storytelling to help them express themselves. Our therapists are trained to create an environment where children feel safe and understood, even if they don’t have the words to express their feelings directly. We have child-friendly spaces and materials in our office specifically designed for this purpose.
What if one family member doesn't want to participate?
While full participation is ideal, we can still make progress even if not everyone is equally engaged or willing to attend. We’ll work with the family members who are present, and often, positive changes begin to influence the entire family system. As therapy progresses, reluctant members sometimes become more open to participating when they see the benefits.
How long does family therapy typically take?
Most families attend weekly or bi-weekly sessions for 3-6 months, though this varies considerably based on your family’s specific situation, the complexity of challenges, and your goals. We’ll discuss timeframe expectations during your initial consultation and regularly reassess progress throughout the therapy journey.
How do you handle conflicts that arise during family therapy sessions?
Our therapists are skilled at managing family dynamics and creating a safe space for productive discussions. When conflicts arise in sessions, we use these as opportunities to practice new communication and problem-solving skills in real-time. These moments often become powerful learning experiences that help families develop healthier ways of addressing disagreements outside of therapy.
Will you tell us what we're doing wrong as parents?
Our approach is never about blame or identifying who’s “wrong.” Instead, we focus on understanding family patterns and how each person contributes to and is affected by these dynamics. We recognize that all parents are doing the best they can with the tools they have. Our goal is to expand your parenting toolkit and help you feel more confident and effective, not to criticize or judge.
Can family therapy help if we're going through a divorce?
Yes, family therapy can be particularly valuable during divorce. It provides a structured, supportive environment for addressing changing family dynamics, helping children adjust, and establishing effective co-parenting relationships. We can help family members navigate this difficult transition while minimizing conflict and supporting everyone’s emotional wellbeing.
Do you offer evening or weekend appointments for busy families?
Yes, we understand the scheduling challenges families face. We offer some evening appointments and limited weekend availability to accommodate work and school schedules. Please inquire about current availability when scheduling your initial consultation.