Family Therapy Long Island

Dr. Joel Kuppersmith in Huntington, New York has more than 30 years of experience in private practice. Dr. Kuppersmith offers a comprehensive range of psychotherapy services including family therapy on Long Island.

Dr. Kuppersmith’s range of services includes individual, marital & family therapy. He is a highly regarded psychologist who is referred to by physicians and mental health providers. He has presented papers to the American Psychological Association and to the Brookhaven National Laboratories.

Dr. Joel Kuppersmith is a caring and experienced therapist who has been providing psychological services and psychoanalytic therapy to the residents of Huntington, NY.  He is a distinguished adjunct professor of psychology at Adelphi University where he continues to teach about the values of individual and family counseling.

Services Include:

Family Therapy Long Island
  • Individual/Marital Counseling
  • Treatment of Adult Children of Alcoholics
  • Psychoanalysis
  • Psychological Consultation
  • Short Term Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
  • Family Therapy

Associations:

  • American Psychological Association
  • New York State Psychological Association
  • National Register of Health Service Psychologists

What Are The Benefits of Family Therapy? 

We all have families that we want to come back to after a long day or share our excitement with. Families struggling with communication and interaction between members may find life hard, but family therapy is a great way to not only dissolve family tensions but also benefit individual family members in many other ways! A family therapist is a great way to start your journey to improve your family, and if you’re looking for family therapy Long Island can trust, Joel Kuppersmith is the person for you!

Benefits of Family Therapy

Family therapy focuses on improving relationships between couples and family members. This way of treating family problems has many benefits for the individual and the family. If you’re looking into family therapy, you may be wondering what kind of services there are. 

Here are some general benefits of family therapy:

  • Understanding personal boundaries: People may have difficulty communicating their boundaries or understanding other people’s boundaries. Family therapy helps each member understand where boundaries lie for other members.
  • Improving communication: A family that cannot communicate may have difficulty trying to solve problems as a group. With family therapy, people can communicate better and know how to say things in the right ways.
  • Enhanced problem-solving skills: Families who need physical therapy may not know how to address problems at home properly or solve them as a family. Therapists can give families strategies for tackling issues at home so they can solve their problems more efficiently.
  • Building empathy: Empathy allows for family members to understand one another on a more personal level and helps each other show that they care for one another. Family therapy helps improve a family’s sense of empathy and communication of feelings.
  • Improving anger management skills: Sometimes, people may let their emotions get the better of them, and with anger, this problem can become frightening and dangerous. Family therapy allows people to learn how to manage their feelings more easily, including anger.
Family Therapy Long Island

There are also specific circumstances that family therapy can help with, especially:

  • Building families back up after a crisis (ex. losing a loved one)
  • Instilling trust within families and family members
  • Promoting honesty between family members
  • Fostering a supportive environment for families
  • Helping family members forgive one another after conflicts
  • Reducing and removing sources of stress within families and family members
  • Resolving conflicts for families
  • Welcoming family members after they’ve been isolated

Therapists can help with all of these issues and more!

Overall, family therapy has many benefits that families and couples can gain. From restoring relationships between family members to creating healthy, supportive family environments, you can trust a family therapist to make your family or relationship stronger in the long run! If you’re looking for family therapy Long Island can count on, Joel Kuppersmith can help you! Please visit our website to learn more about our services. Make an appointment, and improve your family today!


Are There Warning Signs That We Need Family Therapy? 

Even when a family is starting to struggle, it may take some time to decide that they need to go to family therapy. However, it’s crucial to notice the warning signs and get family therapy  before problems worsen for your family. Once you see the warning signs, communicating issues during therapy can become more comfortable for you. If you or someone you know is looking into family therapy Long Island can count on, then Joel Kuppersmith is the right person for you.

What Warning Signs Are There?

Family therapy is designed to help members of couples and families get along with one another. There are signs to look out for when considering family therapy for you and your loved ones. If you’ve found that your family is struggling, you may be wondering what those signs are. Here are some of the most common signs that a family needs therapy:

  • Your family is not communicating. Communication is key to resolving problems between family members. If one or more people are not communicating or fear speaking with the rest of the family, you may want to consider outside help.
  • Your time together causes negative emotions. When family get-togethers are charged with adverse emotional & behavioral reactions, that is a sign that conflict is causing that energy. If your time with your family has caused stress, anger, sadness, anxiety, or other negative emotions, consider family therapy.
  • Your family cannot function together. Being with your family should not feel like it is a burden or an obligation. If being with your family feels like the atmosphere has lost energy, a family therapist can help you.
  • Family members have been/are withdrawing. If one or more family members have been showing disinterest in family activities, it means that they are isolating themselves. Family therapy allows for secluded family members to voice their thoughts in a safe, open environment.
  • There are mood swings. Mood swings often indicate more extensive problems with a family member, like problems they are having trouble communicating. Family therapy lets their voice be open in a safe environment.
  • Violence is part of your family. Family members should not inflict violence on one another at any point. If there is violent behavior, either to yourself or to other family members, then we suggest that you contact Joel Kuppersmith for family therapy Long Island can trust.
  • Substance abuse is part of your family. A family member using drugs or alcohol can put stress on the rest of the family. Family therapists can help diagnose addiction problems or resolve issues that are causing the substance abuse.

Family Therapy on Long Island

All of these signs can be resolved with family therapy, which aims to dissolve family issues and recreate bonds that have been lost between family members. If you or someone you know is looking for family therapy Long Island can depend upon, Joel Kuppersmith is here for you. Please visit our website to learn more about us, and make an appointment with Joel today!


How Does Family Therapy Work? 

If you have been considering going to family therapy, you may be wondering about how the process of family therapy works. Understanding how family therapy works can help you feel more comfortable during each session. The therapists themselves can also help you understand what goes on during a family therapy session. If you or someone you know is looking for family therapy Long Island can count on, Joel Kuppersmith is here for you.

Basics of Family Therapy

Family therapists assess individual issues in the context of the family itself and the family’s group dynamic. Therapists use different techniques, such as cognitive therapy, behavior therapy, and “homework” with at-home exercises. Depending on the family’s issues, there can be anywhere from 5-20 sessions in total. 

The goals of family therapy are as follows:

  • Rebuild connections between family members
  • Restore cohesion and communication between family members
  • Develop & maintain healthy boundaries
  • Improve problem-solving skills for families
  • Resolve family conflicts and tension
  • Develop empathy for family members

Types of Family Therapy

There are several types of family therapy based on if your family is willing to come with you to therapy, how your family’s power system works, and more factors. Your therapist will determine which type is right for your family based on what issues you are facing. However, before you first meet with your therapist, you may be wondering about these types of therapy. Here are the types of family therapy:

  • Bowenian: Therapists use this type if your family cannot or does not want to come to therapy. Bowenian therapy relieves tensions by involving a third party (triangulation) and learning how to be less reactive in family relationships (differentiation). 
  • Structural: Therapists use this type to reorder the family’s roles and redistribute family power. Structural therapy addresses hierarchy issues and puts adults and siblings on the same level as each other, so no family member has too much power.
  • Systemic: Therapists use this type to find meanings behind behaviors in a family or family member and address unconscious communication between family members. The therapist is a distant, neutral party and introduces strategies to give families insight into why problems are occurring.
  • Strategic: Therapists use this direct therapy type to create quick and efficient results. The therapist gives the families “homework”  to change how they interact with problems and problematic family members. Communication and hierarchy issues are also addressed with strategic therapy.

Family Therapy Long Island

Now that you have a better understanding of how family therapy works, it’s time for you to contact a family therapist so you can help your family grow stronger in the long run! With family therapy’s many benefits, from rebuilding lost connections to promoting communication, you can solve your problems with a therapist. Joel Kuppersmith is a family therapist Long Island can trust, and you can visit our website to learn more. Do not wait any longer; make an appointment with us today!