homework for family therapy

Clinical psychology

Psychotherapy, personality, list of family therapy worksheets (5+ therapist-approved options).

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Family therapy worksheets aim to help people to get closer to their families by developing good communication, affection skills, problem-solving abilities, empathy, and other positive gestures. 

Family Therapy Worksheet – Improving Communication 

Family therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on the problems in a family.

Family therapy helps the members of a family to adopt a healthy, effective communication style to communicate their conflicts with their family members and resolve them together.

Family therapy aims to help members of a family respect the perspectives of other members and acknowledge the fact that their actions, words, and behaviors affect their family members.

Family Therapy Worksheet- Developing Empathy

Empathy enables an individual to understand the feelings, emotions, and actions of others and act accordingly to refrain from any guilt in the future.

Family Therapy Worksheet- Identifying and Resolving the Root Cause of Familial Issues

It increases intimacy, love, and care for each other.

Family Therapy Worksheet- Family Questions Activity

This activity helps to increase care, concern, affection, and rapport in a family.

It is helpful in spotting common values of two or more members in a family.

This worksheet contains questions ranging from simple to extensive.

It consists of only two pages and is a great resource for getting closer to each other by identifying how well they know each other and learning more about them. 

Family Therapy Worksheet- Family Mindfulness Schedule Worksheet

Mindfulness is referred to as awareness about oneself and the surroundings.

Mindfulness is important in families as well. It ensures the health and effectiveness of familial relationships.

This worksheet gives a schedule to the family for various activities that would help them develop mindfulness and bring all the family members closer to one another. 

This worksheet can be downloaded in the form of pdf from this site.

Family Therapy Worksheet- Good Qualities Worksheet

The majority of the conflicts of an individual vanish when he focuses on the positive aspects rather than the negative ones.

Similarly, considering the good qualities of a person can help an individual get closer to him and appreciate him for his good attributes.

Good qualities worksheet enables an individual to magnify the positive attributes of an individual, the good time spent with him and his care and affection for him.

This helps increase the gratitude, intimacy, and strength of a relationship.

This worksheet is easily available on the internet.

You can download it in the form of a pdf from this site.

Family Therapy Worksheet- About Your Partner Worksheet

About your partner worksheet consists of various questions about one’s partner, ranging from his childhood to the present time.

It is a source of acknowledging how much more an individual needs to learn about his partner to get closer to him and strengthen their relationship.

This worksheet can be easily accessed in the form of pdf through this site.

This page displays some of the most effective family therapy worksheets.

Some of these worksheets were created by us while some of them were curated from reputable third-party websites.

If you have any questions or queries regarding these worksheets, let us know in the comment section.

We will be glad to assist you in this regard.

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Family Therapy Activities, Worksheets, & Questions

Discover engaging family therapy activities, practical worksheets, and insightful questions to foster better communication and strengthen familial relationships.

By Karina Jimenea on Jul 04, 2024.

Fact Checked by RJ Gumban.

Why are Family Therapy Activities helpful?

Family therapy activities play a crucial role in resolving conflicts, enhancing communication, and strengthening the bonds among family members. These activities are designed to create a safe, non-judgmental environment where members can freely express their feelings and thoughts.

Through activities for family therapy, family members gain insights into their interactions and behaviors, leading to the identification of unhealthy patterns. Consequently, these realizations pave the way for developing effective coping and interaction strategies. Importantly, these communication activities for family therapy encourage empathy and understanding, nurturing stronger relationships.

Furthermore, family therapy activities for relationship building can foster healthier dynamics and resolve underlying issues. They can also be instrumental in dealing with significant life changes, such as marriage, divorce, or death, which may affect the family structure and dynamics. These activities are powerful tools for addressing family challenges, fostering resilience, and enhancing overall family well-being.

10 Family Therapy Activities

Family therapy activities are therapeutic exercises designed to improve communication, build empathy, and encourage positive behavioral change within the family unit. These activities provide a safe space for families to express emotions, share experiences, and work towards resolving conflicts. 

Here, we will explore ten activities that can significantly strengthen familial relationships and understanding.

1. Role-play

This activity can help members understand the perspective of others by stepping into their shoes in a particular scenario.

2. Family Portraits

Each member draws a picture of the family, revealing how they perceive the family dynamic and their role.

3. Positive Affirmation Jars

Members write positive notes about each other and place them in a jar, promoting self-esteem and positivity.

4. Conflict Resolution Role-Play

This involves acting out conflicts and practicing different resolution strategies.

5. Family Meetings

Regular meetings allow members to express their feelings and thoughts in a structured environment.

6. Storytelling

Each member tells a personal story, promoting empathy and understanding.

7. Values Clarification

Members write down their values, promoting respect for different viewpoints within the family.

8. Colored Candy Go Around

An icebreaker activity that uses candies to promote sharing and communication about family dynamics and personal feelings.

9. Feelings Ball

An engaging game that encourages members to express their emotions.

10. Mirroring Activity

This activity promotes empathy as members mirror each other's movements and gestures.

5 Family Therapy Worksheets

Family therapy worksheets are practical tools that help families navigate the therapeutic process. They encourage reflection, aid in identifying problematic patterns, and facilitate constructive communication. These worksheets can be instrumental in mapping out the family dynamics and highlighting areas of strength and potential growth. 

We will delve into five worksheets that have proven significantly effective in family therapy.

1. Genogram Worksheet

This worksheet is a graphical representation of a family tree with a twist. It not only includes information about kinship ties but also details about relationships and how they have shaped the family's dynamic. Genogram worksheets can reveal patterns, such as repetitive occurrences of divorce, mental illness, or conflict, providing valuable insights for therapeutic intervention.

2. Communication Style Worksheet

Every individual communicates differently, and these differences can often lead to misunderstandings within a family. A Communication Style Worksheet helps identify each member's unique communication style – passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive, or assertive. 

Understanding these styles can enhance communication efficacy, thereby fostering healthier relationships.

3. Family Strengths Worksheet

This worksheet allows family members to identify and explore their collective strengths. These include good listening skills, willingness to support each other, and the ability to work well under stress. Recognizing these strengths can help families feel more connected, encouraging them to leverage these positives during challenging times.

4. Coping Skills Worksheet

Dealing with stress or conflict is an inevitable part of family life. The Coping Skills Worksheet aids in identifying and developing effective strategies for managing these difficult situations. It may involve relaxation techniques, problem-solving strategies, or seeking support. Over time, these coping mechanisms can enhance resilience and improve overall family well-being.

5. Problem-Solving Worksheet

This worksheet helps families effectively approach and resolve conflicts or problems. It encourages family members to define the problem clearly, brainstorm possible solutions, consider the pros and cons of each, and then decide on the best course of action. 

Using a structured approach, families can handle conflicts constructively, reducing the likelihood of escalated tensions or unresolved issues.

10 Family Therapy Questions

Family therapy questions are insightful prompts designed to open up meaningful conversations among family members. They help uncover underlying issues, explore feelings, and foster understanding of each other's perspectives. Asking the right questions can spark open discussions, allowing every member to express their thoughts and feelings, thus promoting healing and growth. 

Let's look at ten common yet impactful family therapy questions.

1. What do you love most about our family?

This question encourages family members to think about the positive aspects of their family, fostering a sense of gratitude and appreciation.

2. What do you think is our family's biggest strength?

This allows members to focus on the resilience of the family unit and how they can leverage this strength to overcome challenges.

3. What's a recent situation where you felt upset with a family member?

Members can express their feelings more openly by discussing specific incidents, leading to a deeper understanding and resolution of conflicts.

4. How can we improve communication within our family?

This question prompts reflection on communication patterns and encourages brainstorming strategies for improvement.

5. What is something you wish our family did more of?

Asking this question can reveal individual needs or desires that might have been overlooked and encourage the family to incorporate more of these activities to strengthen bonds.

6. What is a recent conflict that our family resolved well?

Reflecting on successfully resolved conflicts can help the family identify effective strategies for future reference.

7. What is a recurring conflict in our family, and how do you feel about it?

This question can uncover persistent issues within the family, offering a chance to address them openly and honestly.

8. How can we better support each other during challenging times?

Families can prepare themselves to navigate stressful periods more effectively by discussing how to offer support.

9. What are your family roles, and are you content with them?

This question can help family members express discontent with their roles and discuss possible changes.

10. What family traditions do you enjoy or want to start?

This question encourages families to celebrate their shared history and create new traditions, strengthening their unity and togetherness.

When is it best to conduct Family Therapy Activities?

Family therapy activities are versatile tools that can be deployed at various times and for multiple issues. Timing is essential when considering the best time to incorporate these activities, as their effectiveness can significantly impact a family's emotional health and resilience.

During Transitions

Life is full of changes, some of which can disrupt the dynamics of a family. For instance, remarriage can introduce new family members, which could necessitate adjustments in roles and expectations. Similarly, moving to a new location might create a sense of disorientation and loss. Welcoming a new baby, particularly in cases where there are already other children, can also evoke feelings of jealousy or neglect. 

During such transitions, family therapy activities can aid in smoothing the transition process by facilitating communication, understanding, and acceptance of the new family configuration.

Addressing Persistent Issues

Families may also experience ongoing problems such as communication breakdowns, recurring conflicts, or behavioral issues, particularly among children. These issues can create a tense environment, affecting family harmony and well-being. 

Family therapy activities can provide a structured platform to unearth these issues, understand their roots, and devise strategies to address them, thereby enhancing family harmony.

Dealing with Significant Life Events

Sometimes, a family member may face a significant life event, such as a mental health condition, substance abuse, or chronic illness. These circumstances can be challenging for the individual and their family members, who might feel helpless or confused about how best to provide support. 

In such instances, family therapy activities can play a crucial role. They can promote a better understanding of the condition, develop effective coping mechanisms, and foster a supportive environment. These activities encourage collective strength and resilience, making the challenge more manageable.

Post-Trauma or Crisis

Family therapy activities can be instrumental in the aftermath of a crisis or traumatic event, such as losing a family member or a disaster. They can help process the grief, trauma, and loss experienced, providing a safe space for expressing feelings and fears. They can also help establish a sense of normalcy and develop coping mechanisms during these difficult times.

Families can navigate challenging circumstances more effectively, strengthen their bonds, and foster a supportive, loving environment by conducting family therapy activities at these appropriate times.

How can Carepatron help with Family Therapy-related work?

Carepatron is a versatile platform designed to streamline healthcare and therapy-related work, making it an excellent tool for managing family therapy. It provides a centralized space for organizing therapy sessions, tracking progress, and facilitating communication between family members and therapists.

Its intuitive design allows therapists to quickly and easily schedule sessions, share worksheets and resources, and record notes and observations. Furthermore, it can handle sensitive information securely, maintaining client confidentiality. Carepatron also enables real-time communication, making it a vital platform for remote or online family therapy sessions.

Commonly asked questions

Some everyday activities include role-play, family portraits, positive affirmation jars, and family meetings.

The Genogram, Communication Style, Family Strengths, Coping Skills, and Problem-Solving worksheets are commonly used.

While beneficial, family therapy can initially increase conflict or distress as underlying issues are addressed. Also, its effectiveness relies heavily on the commitment and participation of all family members.

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September 17, 2023

10 Family Therapy Activities For Building Relationships

by Jessica Samora

• Pressures from everyday interactions may cause unhelpful behaviors and conflicts within families.

• Through family therapy, members can learn to express themselves better and listen more effectively.

• Engaging in activities such as open communication sessions and art therapy allows for emotional expression and bonding.

The outside world is tough

Pressure from workplaces, social interaction, or other outside influences can sometimes weigh heavily on family relationships, leading to inexplicable conflicts between family members. Getting frustrated and stuck in a cycle of unhelpful thoughts and behaviors related to negative family dynamics is easy. Will family therapy activities restore your relationships?

So, how do you establish or bring back happy family dynamics? How do you help your children, spouse, and other family members rediscover the joy in being together? How do you help them cope with the pressures of living in today's world? How do you encourage someone to be present with the family and see beyond their phone screen?

Could family therapy activities be the answer?

Family therapy is a smart step toward building relationships and restoring familial bonds. It involves activities designed to help the members express their emotions, understand each other better, and break down barriers, allowing families to function better together as one unit.

You can attend family therapy in person or from the comfort of your home, online via Teleheath .

Family therapy activities enhance overall connections within the family and encourage a healthier environment for everyone, young or old.

Understanding the Importance of Family Therapy

Family therapy empowers each family member to understand their roles within the family. It also helps build empathy and understanding of one another's feelings in a safe, trusting, and non-judgmental environment. More specifically, they learn and form healthy identities and create an atmosphere of collaboration and support within the family unit, while teaching families how to better manage their relationships.

In short, they help families gain a greater sense of well-being and operate in ways that are more open, empathetic, and curious in everyday life.

In this piece, we will explore the most common and effective family therapy activities for building relationships that can help you foster an environment of trust, love, and understanding within your family.

1. Open Communication Sessions

One of the fundamental aspects of any healthy relationship is open and honest communication. Family therapy often starts with dedicated sessions where each family member can express their thoughts, feelings, and concerns in a safe and non-judgmental environment.

These sessions are facilitated by an experienced family therapist who ensures everyone can speak and be heard.

During these sessions, family members learn to actively listen to each other without interrupting. The therapist may introduce communication exercises like "active listening," where one person speaks, and the others listen without offering immediate feedback.

This practice promotes a deeper understanding of each other's perspectives and encourages empathy.

2. Role-Playing Exercises

Role-playing can be a powerful tool in family therapy. It allows family members to step into each other's shoes and better understand the challenges and perspectives of others within the family. For example, a child may role-play as a parent and vice versa. This exercise helps family members see situations from different angles and can lead to increased empathy and compassion.

Role-playing is also a great way to practice new behaviors and skills. For example, if one family member often has difficulty expressing their emotions, they can practice this in a safe environment with the therapist's guidance.

3. Art and Creative Therapy

For families who find it challenging to express themselves verbally, art therapy can be incredibly beneficial. Individuals can convey their emotions and thoughts nonverbally through painting, drawing, or other creative mediums. This can be especially helpful for children struggling to articulate their feelings. Art therapy provides an outlet for self-expression and can uncover underlying emotions that are difficult to put into words.

4. Chinese Whispers

Chinese whispers, also known as the Telephone Game, is a fun and educational activity highlighting the importance of clear communication. Family members sit in a circle, and one person whispers a message to the next person, who then passes it along to the next. The message continues until it reaches the last person, who shares it with the entire group. Often, the final message is quite different from the original, illustrating how miscommunication can occur within families. This activity emphasizes the need for clear and direct communication to avoid misunderstandings.

5. The Miracle Question

The miracle question is a thought-provoking exercise that encourages family members to envision a future where their problems are miraculously solved. The therapist asks each family member to describe what their life would be like if, overnight, their issues disappeared. This exercise helps family members articulate their goals and desires, providing a positive vision to work towards. It also opens up discussions about the steps needed to move closer to that ideal future.

6. Emotions Ball

The activity works well to express emotions, especially in teenagers or children who might not be comfortable articulating their feelings through words. The activity only requires a pen and a ball (preferably a beach ball) because it is big enough to write various emotions, and passing it around is more manageable.

On each colored section of the ball, write down different emotions, such as joy, happiness, sadness, etc.

Gather the family members in a circle and have them pass the ball back and forth.

When a family member catches the ball, encourage them to share a personal experience or moment when they felt the specific emotion written on the section they caught.

This exercise is meant to facilitate open discussions about various emotions within your family while practicing active listening and expressing your feelings.

7. Mirroring Activity

The mirroring activity is designed to improve non-verbal communication and enhance empathy within the family. Family members pair up and take turns mirroring each other's movements and facial expressions. They mimic the other person's movements while avoiding physical contact. Those involved become more in tune with each other's gestures and expressions, helping them develop a stronger bond of understanding.

This exercise encourages family members to be attentive to non-verbal cues, which are often essential in understanding each other's emotions. Mirroring can help family members connect on a deeper level and develop a heightened awareness of each other's non-verbal signals.

8. Lily Pad Swamp Crossing

The lily pad swamp crossing is a problem-solving activity that promotes teamwork and cooperation within the family. It involves creating a "swamp" on the floor using cushions or pieces of paper as a "lily pad." Family members, now frogs, must work together to cross the swamp without falling into the "water." This activity teaches important lessons about trust, communication, and collaboration.

The therapist listens and observes how the family interacts as they complete the activity. It provides insight into how family members work together, and they can use this insight to identify communication patterns or problem-solving strategies that can be improved. They learn to support each other through challenges, fostering a sense of unity and shared achievement.

9. Family Genogram

Creating a family genogram is like constructing a family tree but with a deeper emotional dimension. It helps family members understand their history, connections, and the patterns that may be affecting their relationships. In a family therapy session, a therapist guides the family in creating a visual representation of their family structure, including relationships, roles, and significant life events. This tool can reveal patterns of behavior and relationship dynamics that contribute to current challenges. It also helps family members see how their family history influences their present relationships.

10. The Magic Key

The magic key activity is a metaphorical exercise that encourages family members to collaboratively explore solutions to their problems. In this exercise, family members imagine they have a "magic key" that can unlock solutions to their challenges. They take turns sharing about one thing they believe money can never buy that they want to unlock in the family. This exercise aims for family members to identify their common values and develop a shared vision. It can help them recognize their similarities instead of focusing on their differences, thereby strengthening relationships within the family.

Building Trust and Empathy

Trust-Building Exercises:

Trust is the bedrock of any healthy relationship. Family therapy often includes trust-building activities that allow family members to work on regaining trust or establishing it for the first time. These exercises create a safe space where family members can express vulnerabilities and fears without judgment.

Trust-building activities may include sharing personal stories, setting boundaries, and gradually rebuilding trust through consistent actions and open communication. The therapist guides these activities and ensures each family member feels heard and supported.

Empathy-Building Games:

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. Various games and exercises in family therapy are designed to enhance empathy among family members, promoting a more compassionate atmosphere. One common exercise involves family members taking turns sharing their feelings while the others practice active listening and reflecting on what they've heard. This practice helps family members connect on a deeper emotional level and fosters empathy, which is essential for resolving conflicts and building stronger bonds.

Conflict Resolution Strategies

Active Listening Techniques:

One of the keys to resolving conflicts is active listening. Family members are taught how to listen attentively and without interruption, fostering a deeper understanding of each other's perspectives. Active listening involves not only hearing words but also paying attention to non-verbal cues and emotions. This skill is invaluable in family therapy and everyday family life, as it promotes effective communication and reduces misunderstandings.

Negotiation and Compromise Activities:

Learning how to negotiate and compromise is crucial in any relationship. Family therapy often includes exercises that teach these skills, enabling family members to find mutually beneficial solutions. These activities may involve role-playing scenarios where family members practice negotiation techniques or work together to find compromises in real-life situations.

Strengthening Bonds

Group Activities:

Participating in group activities as a family can be incredibly bonding. These could include outings, games, or even volunteering together, fostering a sense of unity and shared experiences.

Group activities provide opportunities for family members to create positive memories, strengthen their connections, and enjoy each other's company outside of the therapy setting.

Family Meetings:

Regular family meetings can provide a structured and safe space for discussing important issues, setting goals, and celebrating achievements. Family members can use these meetings to check in with each other, share their thoughts and feelings, and collaboratively make decisions. These meetings help establish a sense of routine and structure within the family and ensure that everyone's voice is heard.

Final thoughts...

Family therapy activities play a pivotal role in strengthening and nurturing familial bonds. The dynamics within a family can be complex, and challenges can arise for various reasons.

These activities, conducted under the guidance of a family therapist, offer effective strategies for addressing these challenges and improving family relationships.

They help family members build trust, increase empathy, resolve conflicts, and strengthen their connections. Family therapy activities create a safe environment for positive changes to occur, enabling families to move forward with healthier dynamics and more meaningful bonds.

Commonly Asked Questions

1. When is the best time to schedule family therapy activities?

Timing plays a crucial role when considering the ideal time to conduct these activities because it can really make a big difference in how your family processes and implements. Consider these activities when:

Dealing with a significant life event, such as a chronic illness, mental health condition, or substance abuse.

During transitions, for example, remarriage, a new sibling, or a new school.

Post-trauma or crisis, such as divorce, loss, abuse, or other traumatic experiences.

Addressing persistent or recurring issues, like communication breakdowns, arguments, and power struggles.

Resolving underlying issues that keep the family from functioning optimally.

2. How long does family therapy typically last?

Family therapy can vary in duration, but it often spans several weeks to several months, depending on the specific issues being addressed. The therapist will work with the family to determine the appropriate length of therapy based on their goals and progress.

3. Is family therapy only for families facing severe problems?

No, family therapy can be beneficial for families dealing with a wide range of issues, from minor conflicts to more significant challenges. It can help improve communication, resolve conflicts, and strengthen relationships at any stage.

4. How can I find a qualified family therapist?

You can search for family therapists through professional associations, online directories, or by asking for referrals from people you know, your primary care physician or other professionals.

You can also find qualified family therapists at Healing Collective Therapy Group. We offer free consultations so you can get a feeling if the therapist you speak to is the right one for you.

It's important to choose a therapist who has experience in family therapy and with the specific issues your family is facing. Look for the therapists family therapy experience on our website.

5. Are family therapy activities suitable for children?

Many family therapy activities are designed to be inclusive of children and can help them understand and navigate family dynamics better. Therapists adapt activities to suit each family member's age and developmental level.

6. Can family therapy be done virtually?

With the advancement of technology, many family therapy sessions can now be conducted online, making it more accessible and convenient for families. Virtual therapy sessions can be just as effective as in-person sessions when conducted by a qualified therapist.

Try therapy — it's available at a low-cost to everyone in California. Learn new skills to help you grow.

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The Counseling Palette

11 Fun Family Therapy Activities for Sessions and at Home

Updated: Aug 20

Try these ideas to help your family learn, bond, and find more peace and connection. 

It can be awkward and intimidating for families to sit down and communicate directly, especially at first. This is tricky at any age, since younger kids might feel in trouble and teens may feel a violation of privacy. Even parents and adult children may feel at a loss to get started.

So whether you’re in a formal family therapy session or working on communication at home, you can find gentler but still effective ways to connect . Therapeutic family activities can be helpful, non-threatening, and fun! 

Here are 11 family therapy activities you can try out during therapy sessions or at home.

Article Contents

Therapeutic family board games

Sand tray therapy

Family vision board

Natural play

Family movie night

Kid-friendly genogram

Favorite things activity

Coping skills kits

Creative expression

Musical activities

Family adventure

1. Therapeutic Family Board Games

We’ve all heard of family game night (which I highly recommend), but how does a game of competitive Monopoly really help family dynamics? Well, there are ways to make traditional games more therapeutic, and there are actual board games created for family therapy . 

One example is Family Pursuit , a game loosely inspired by Trivial Pursuit but geared towards helping families communicate. Family members work together instead of against each other, completing challenges such as drawing from prompts, answering questions about their favorite things, or voicing things they like about each other.

Family pursuit is a family therapy activity available as a PDF game. Download it here and print it today  to use in a session or at home.

Another way to make board games therapeutic for families is to add prompts to games you already have. Write simple topics you’d like to discuss, such as questions about coping skills, and add them to turns in the game. Before placing a Jenga block, for example, you must answer a prompt to complete your turn.

And even if you’re not ready for a game with prompts, enjoying fun games together can be a way for many families to bond. Kids especially may find games special and bonding, even if they are a bit tedious for the adults or teens in the family. 

Check out Family Pursuit and other printable PDF therapy games ! 

2. Sand Tray Therapy

There’s something special about playing in the sand. Although your child might be beyond an actual sand box, an activity called sand tray therapy may still do the trick. 

Sand play was created as a way for kids to express their world and feelings in an intuitive way. Family members, even those made of all adults or adults and teens, can create a world together. 

To give you an idea, sand tray sets usually include small people, animals, structures, symbols, and more. Just like you might sit down and draw whatever comes to mind, you use the miniatures to create a 3d depiction.

That’s the intuitive version – there are also more structured ways to use sand tray. For families you might try prompts such as: 

Show what it’s like when you hang out with your siblings/parent/friends

What’s a fun thing you like to do together? 

Show something you and a family member have in common

Create a family vacation you’d like to go on

Create any scene and tell your family about it

Following the scene creation you can discuss the display itself or ask what it was like to make or show the creation.

Most sand tray setups include plastic figurines, but you can also use paper dolls and printouts to start or supplement your set. Check out these printable PDF sand tray miniatures! 

Shop Sand Tray Miniatures

3. Family Vision Board

You may have created a vision board collage in school or as part of your New Year’s resolution. This version is a joining vision board that brings the family together. You can do this in many different ways – here’s one way I recommend. 

Use a bulletin board and stick pins so you can easily move things around. Gather sets of old magazine, stickers, PDF printouts, etc. You’ll also need scissors, or you can tear out the pictures you want to use. 

Depending on how large the family is, have each person choose 5 to 10 images or phrases to represent themselves, things they like, or something they want more of in the future (ie travel, Leggos, etc.)

Loosely section off an area of the vision board for each person, leaving a decent space in the middle blank. Have each person take turns adding their images to the board. 

For the middle section, family members work together to choose things they want as a family. This might include having more fun, having movie night, getting along better, listening well, etc. Make sure everyone is included in the discussion and comes to a consensus about what to include. 

The family can then move things around, consolidate, make changes, etc., until everyone is happy with the board. Display it somewhere everyone can see it and you can check in, discuss it, or make updates if needed. 

4. Natural Play

It may not seem like play is therapy. After all, it’s supposed to be serious business. But young children bond, learn, and process during play, and parent participation adds to the benefits. If more processing is needed due to trauma or recent stress, you can supply toys that encourage communication such as puppets, dollhouses, or blocks.

In exploratory play you are not directing the activity itself. Generally the child chooses the toys or activity and the parent and/or therapist play along with their direction. Some good toys to have on hand are: 

Paper dolls

A family session can be entirely about play, or families can make a point to play with their child one-on-one each day, even if it’s just for 30 minutes or so. Every little bit can help with bonding and building your relationship. 

5. Family Movie Night

I find family movie night is one of the simplest, most straightforward activities a family can do together, plus it doesn’t involve a lot of prep (or even energy) from parents. Yet for many children it means quite a lot. Make it a real event with special snacks, pillows, and comfy blankets to share. 

The idea for family movie night is for everyone to be engaged. No phones, tablets, toys, or work allowed! Choose a movie everyone can enjoy and discuss what you liked about it afterwards. 

While kids’ movies in the background may be a staple in your house, it’s a lot different when the entire family sits down and is present together. You might be making some pretty meaningful memories for your kids without realizing it. 

6. Kid-Friendly Genogram

Genograms are a type of family tree that includes notations about the types of relationships and issues your family struggles (or sometimes benefits) from. Some of them can get pretty intense with notes about child abuse or affairs. However, your family can create a kid-friendly genogram, depending on your child’s age, using some of the more basic symbols. 

On the other hand, if you have older children or teens who already know about affairs or abuse in the family, it may be validating to go ahead with a full genogram. In that case it can be validating for kids to simply see their parents recognizing the issue. 

Adults often shy away from topics they think kids will be uncomfortable with (or that they themselves don’t like to talk about). There could be some situation where that’s appropriate, but in many cases kids silently wonder why their parents don’t bring it up. Visit here to learn more about genograms. 

7. Favorite Things Activity

The favorite things activity for family therapy is kind of like a family bucket list. It can be as simple as having more movie nights to as ambitious as going to Disney World. The idea isn’t to plan a lot of expensive events though, but more to get an idea of the experiences that your family can enjoy together. 

Maybe one parent wants to take the family camping in the coming summer, and one child wants to go back to the awesome waterpark they went to when they were 5. Make a list with two columns including one of fun things your family has enjoyed, and the other with fun things the family might like to do together. 

Make sure everyone knows that you’re not necessarily going to get to do all of the things. Plus, ensure 50% to 75% of the activities are free or low-cost. Money doesn’t grow on trees after all! 

8. Coping Skills Kit

Every parent knows that it’s difficult to always keep your cool. If we’re being honest, parenting is just too hard! If you’ve never lost your cool or raised your voice to your kids you should probably let researchers know so they can study your brain. 

Kids may already be familiar with creating a coping skills kit from their own therapy or from school. This can be a family event as well. Each person can create their own kit, including teens and adults, and discuss them with each other. This can also open up the discussion for how the family can handle stressful situations. 

Each coping kit is different, but generally you start with a container and put soothing activities inside. Ideas include: 

Stress ball

Coloring sheets

Fidget toys

Stuffed animals

Even if you don’t always use the kit the activity itself can validate that everyone in the family needs support and space sometimes, and that can certainly include adults. 

9. Creative Expression

Most kids are natural creators. Lego buildings, dinosaur enclosures, pretend kitchens, stuffed animal towns, drawings, cardboard crafts and more have probably taken over your house at some point. 

It can also be fun for kids, teens, and parents to create together. One easy example is to play with Legos and create structures on a theme, such as forest animals or Disney princesses. 

You can also sit down and draw out scenes together or simply color. The idea is to be present and allow creativity to flow. There’s no need to judge, fix, or be perfect. Just have fun! Here’s a list of creative expression ideas:

Make a family collage

Create a Lego town

Dress up paper dolls

Color on blank paper or coloring sheets

Finger paint

Practice drawing together

Play with air-dry clay

Complete pre-made crafts like Diamond Dotz

10. Musical Activities

Many kids and families for that matter love music. If you have instruments or are musically inclined already, make Friday nights your jam session. Otherwise, put on your favorite music and have a dance party. 

Better yet, have each family member choose and share their favorite music, or take turns song-by-song. If you have time to kill in the car, like when waiting for school drop-off or when going on a road trip, create a playlist. 

As a parent, share your own love of music and what it was like listening to music growing up. Technology changes every generation and your child may have never heard of 8-track tapes, CDs or MP3 players. Most kids are amazed at the similarities and differences of their parents’ childhood versus their own, so it can be a great starting point for conversation. 

11. Family Adventures

Who doesn’t love an adventure! This is similar to the favorite things activity, except you’re going to choose one activity and do it. The idea is mainly to do something new that the family (or some family members) haven’t done much or ever before. 

Make it a special day, talking about it ahead of time and planning together. Here are some ideas: 

Go thrift shopping or garage sales-ing

Visit a waterpark

Walk around downtown (for older kids/teens)

Drive around and look at Christmas lights

Volunteer at a local charity

Go to a local pet-rescue

Try a new sport like disc golfing or pickleball

Go roller skating

Visit a bowling alley

Go on a road trip

You get the idea. These are just a few ideas to get you started. Your family is unique and you can brainstorm to find the right next adventure for you. (I know family activities can be stressful as well – just remember that even the most stressful days for adults can be lifetime family memories.)

Family therapy is just a starting place. The overall idea is to open up communication, build closeness, and get to know each other on a more meaningful level. When it comes down to it most kids want to feel close and accepted, and having more of that in childhood will transfer into an easier and happier time as an adult. Making the time now will be worth it.

For some help with family therapy ideas, check out our downloadable activities . I particularly recommend Family Pursuit which covers many of the aspects above. Visit here for more.  

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mind remake project

A therapy and mental health resource site

200+ Sites with Free Therapy Worksheets & Handouts

An extensive list of 200+ sites with free therapy worksheets and handouts on various topics, for clinical use or for self-help.

This post is archived; I will no longer be updating this page. For the newest edition of this guide, please see 250+ Sites with Free Therapy Worksheets .

(Updated 11/28/23) If you’re a counselor or therapist, you’re probably familiar with Therapist Aid , one of the most well-known sites for providing no-cost therapy worksheets. But Therapist Aid isn’t the only resource for free clinical tools! This is a list of over 200 sites with free therapy worksheets and handouts.

See below for links to websites with free therapy worksheets and handouts for clinical use and self-help.

Click here for therapy worksheets, handouts, and guides posted on this site. Access additional free printables by joining Mind Remake Project’s Facebook group, Resources for Mental Health Counselors & Social Workers. 🆕

Sites with Free Therapy Worksheets & Handouts

Therapy worksheets for mental health.

• 91 Free Counseling Handouts | Handouts on self-esteem, emotions, recovery, stress, and more (Source: Kevin Everett FitzMaurice)
• A Good Way to Think: Resources | Therapy worksheets and handouts on happiness, well-being, values, etc. (Source: A Good Way to Think by David)
• Articles by Dr. Paul David | Clinical handouts on depression, relationships, substance use disorders, family issues, etc. (Source: Dr. Paul David, PhD)
• Belmont Wellness: Psychoeducational Handouts, Quizzes, and Group Activities | Printable handouts on assertiveness, emotional wellness, stress management, and more (Source: Judith Belmont of Belmont Wellness)
• Black Dog Institute: Resources & Support | Downloadable fact sheets, handouts, mood trackers, and more on a variety of mental health topics (Source: Black Dog Institute Australia)
• Brené Brown Downloads and Guides | Resources for work, parenting, the classroom, and daily life (Source: Brené Brown, LLC)
• Bryan Konik: Free Therapy Worksheets | A collection of therapy worksheets on stress management, anxiety, relationships, goal setting, and trauma (Source: Bryan Konik, Therapist & Social Worker)
• Cairn Center: Resources | A modest collection of printable assessments, handouts, and worksheets on DBT, anxiety, depression, etc. (Source: Cairn Center)
• Coping.us | Printable tools for coping (Source: James J. Messina, PhD & Constance Messina, PhD) 
• Cornell Health: Fact Sheet Library | A variety of handouts and tracking sheet on various health topics; only a few relate to mental health and addiction (Source: Cornell University)
• Counseling Library Handouts | A collection of handouts on depression, trauma, personality, and more (Source: Morning Light Counseling, Carrie M. Wrigley, LCSW)
• Counselors Associated: Free PDFs | A small collection of PDF downloads (Source: Counselors Associated, Inc.)
• Downloads | A small collection of therapy worksheets/workbooks on boundaries, anger, anxiety/mindfulness, relationships, and more (Source: Christina Bell, Registered Psychologist)
• DOWNLOADS from Get Self Help | Free therapy worksheets and handouts on a variety of topics (Source: Getselfhelp.co.uk)
• Dr. D. Fox: Forms, Presentation Slides, & Worksheets | Topics include anger, emotions, borderline personality disorder, etc. (Source: Daniel J. Fox, PhD, Applied Psychological Services, PLLC)
• Dr. John Barletta: Tip Sheets | Downloadable tip sheets on a variety of topics (Source: Dr. John Barletta)
• EchoHawk Counseling: Materials and Resources | Articles, worksheets, and handouts on a variety of topics, including boundaries, emotions, grief, stress, trauma, etc. (Source: Lance Echo-Hawk)
• Eddins Counseling Group: Worksheets | A short list of free worksheets and handouts (Source: Eddins Counseling Group)
• Faith Harper: Worksheets and Printables | A small collection of therapy worksheets and handouts, including a gratitude journal (Source: Faith G. Harper, PhD, LPC-S, ACS, ACN)
• Free Social Work Tools and Resources | Worksheets, workbooks, assessments, and other resources for adults and children (Source: SocialWorkersToolbox.com)
• How Therapy Works: Free Downloads | A few free resources from Jeffery Smith, MD (Source: http://www.howtherapyworks.com )
• James Drew Psychotherapy: Forms | A small collection of worksheets/handouts on feelings, communication, values, goals, etc. (Source: James Drew, LPC)
• Jane Rekas: Downloads | A large collection of downloads (Source: Jane Rekas, MSW)
• Mark Purcell, PsyD: Professional Resources | Links to PowerPoint slides, DBT worksheets, assessments for suicide risk and compassion fatigue, and more
• Mark R. Young, LMSW, LCSW: Links & Forms | Links to factsheets, worksheets, assessments, etc. (Source: Mark R. Young, LMSW, LCSW)
• Mental Health America DIY Tools | A collection of free downloads from MHA
• Mental Health America Self-Help Tools | Links to assessments, worksheets, handouts, and more (Source: Mental Health America)
• Mental Health CE Course Articles | Course content handouts on a variety of mental health topics (Source: MentalHealthCE.com)
• Mind My Peelings: Worksheets & Infographics | A small collection of downloadable tools (Source: Mind My Peelings)
• My Group Guide: Therapy Resources | Source: My Group Guide
• Nancy L. Johnston: Downloads | A small collection of downloads on codependency, enabling, etc. (Source: Nancy L. Johnston, LPC, LSATP)
• Oxford Clinical Psychology: Forms and Worksheets | A large collection of therapy worksheets based on evidence-based practices (Source: Oxford Clinical Psychology)
• Patient Handouts | A large collection of handouts for mental health and addiction (Source: Redemption Psychiatry)
• Peggy L. Ferguson, Ph.D.: Addiction Recovery Worksheets | A modest collection of handouts/worksheets for addiction and recovery (Source: Peggy L. Ferguson, PhD)
• PsychPoint: Therapy Worksheets
• Self-Help Library | Multiple handouts on topics including communication, relationships, anxiety, ADHD, anger, depression, and more (Source: Present Centered Therapy)
• Self-Help Toolkits | Articles and handouts on worry, depression, assertiveness, etc. (Source: Dr. Danny Gagnon, PhD, Montreal Psychologist)
• Sleep and Depression Laboratory: Resources | A small collection of worksheets related to sleep, worry, and depression (Source: Dr. Colleen E. Carney, PhD, CPsych)
• Sober Eastbourne | A UK-based resource site with links to organizations that post free tools for mental health and recovery
• The Stages of Change | 7-page PDF packet (Source: Virginia Tech Continuing and Professional Education)
• St. Louis Counseling & Wellness Handouts | Downloadable tools on various topics including addiction, CBT, communication, stress, and positive psychology
• Talk, Trust and Feel Therapeutics | Articles/handouts on anger, abandonment, narcissism, and relationships (Source: Lynne Namka, EdD)
• Therapist Aid | Free therapy worksheets
• Therapy Worksheets | A resource blog with links to free therapy worksheets on various mental health topics (Source: Therapy Worksheets by Will Baum, LCSW)
• Tim’s Resource Notebook | A small collection of handouts on various topics such as relationships, emotions, and values (Source: Tim’s Resource Notebook)

Therapy Worksheets for Substance Use Disorders & Addiction

• 12-Step Worksheets | Source: 12step.org
• Addiction Recovery Worksheets | A modest collection of worksheets (Source: Bowen Center)
• ASI-MV Worksheets & Handouts | Addiction and recovery handouts (Source: IBH)
• Client Worksheets from Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders (Treatment Improvement Protocols Services) | 44 therapy worksheets on addiction and recovery (Source: Treatment for Stimulant Use Disorders, SAMHSA/NIH)
• Integrity Counseling Handouts | A short list of client handouts on addiction (Source: Integrity Counseling, Inc.)
• InFocus Helpful Resources | Family handouts on addiction (Source: SHARC Australia)
• Motivational Interviewing Worksheets | Source: MINT
• Refuge Recovery | Download and print the truth inventory worksheets (Source: Refuge Recovery)
• Relapse Autopsy | 12-page PDF packet (Source: Willow Tree Counseling)
• Self-Help Exercises | Source: Gambling Therapy
• SMART Recovery Toolbox | Addiction and recovery resources (Source: SMART Recovery)
• Substance Abuse | 12-page PDF packet (Source: Carleton University, Criminal Justice Decision Making Laboratory & Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services)
• Taking the Escalator: Therapy Tools | Handouts on addiction and recovery (Source: Taking the Escalator)
• Worksheets | A small collection of addiction and recovery worksheets (Source: A Recovery Story)

Depression, Stress, & Anxiety

• Alphabet of Stress Management and Coping Skills | Coping skills for every letter of the alphabet (Source: Ramapo College of New Jersey)
• Anxiety Canada: Free Downloadable PDF Resources | Anxiety worksheets for parents and self-help (Source: Anxiety Canada)
• Behavioral Activation for Depression | 35-page packet (Source: Michigan Medicine)
• Counseling Library: Handouts on Depression | Source: Morning Light Counseling
• Creating Your Personal Stress Management Plan | 10-page packet (Source: Fostering Resilience)
• Downloads (Patient Resources) | Downloadable PDF resources for anxiety and depression (Source: Michigan Medicine)
• Dr. Chloe: Worksheets for Anxiety Management | A small collection of worksheets and handouts (Source: Dr. Chloe)
• Panic Attack Worksheets | 9-page PDF packet (Source: Inner Health Studio)
• Relaxation | 15-page packet on relaxation skills for anxiety (Source: Michigan Medicine)
• Stress Management | 5-page packet on stress management (Source: Inner Health Studio)
• Stress Management – Patient Handouts | A collection of handouts on stress management; some of the other sections, including “General Health and Wellness” and “Nutrition” have links to handouts as well (Source: UMASS Medical School Department of Psychiatry)
• Treatment for Mood Disorders Worksheet Packet | 7-page PDF packet (Source: Michael DiPaolo, PhD)

Trauma & Related Disorders

• Center for Sexual Assault & Traumatic Stress: Therapist Resources | Client handouts, assessments, info sheets, toolkits, training resources, links, etc. (UW Medicine Harborview Medical Center)
• Child and Family Studies: Sex in the Family | 8-page packet on shame and guilt in relation to child sexual abuse (Source: Carol Morgaine, PhD)
• Counseling Library: Handouts on Abuse/Trauma | Source: Morning Light Counseling
• Crisis and Trauma Resource Center (CTRC) Printable Handouts | Several handouts and worksheets to download for free (Source: CTRC)
• Detaching From Emotional Pain (Grounding) | 12-page PDF packet (Source: Sunspire Health)
• Disaster Mental Health Handouts | Source: David Baldwin’s Trauma Information Pages
• Grounding Exercises | 2-page PDF handout (Source: Truman State University)
• Grounding Techniques | 1-page PDF handout (Source: JMU Counseling Center)
• Healing Private Wounds Booklets | Religious handouts on healing from sexual abuse (Source: Healing Private Wounds)
• MN Trauma Project: Downloadable Resources to Use in Therapy | A short list of links to trauma worksheets
• Prince Edward Island Rape and Sexual Assault Centre Resources | PDF handouts (Source: PEIRSAC)
• Selected Handouts and Worksheets from Treatment of Postraumatic Stress Disorder in Special Populations: A Cognitive Restructuring Program | 13-page PDF packet (Source: Mueser, K. T., Rosenberg, S. D., & Rosenberg, H. J., 2009)
• Trauma Research and Treatment: Trauma Toolkit | A small collection of trauma handouts (Source: Trauma Research and Treatment)
• Wisconsin Hawthorn Project: Handouts & Worksheets | Handouts in English and Spanish (Source: Wisconsin Hawthorn Project)
• CBT for Psychosis & Trauma Handouts | Source: Recovery from Schizophrenia and other Psychotic Disorders
• Early Psychosis Intervention: Downloads | Source: EPI
• Goal-Setting Worksheet for Patients with Schizophrenia | 3-page PDF (Source: Med-IQ)
• List of 60 Coping Strategies for Hallucinations | 2-page PDF (Source: South Bay Project Resource)
• Treatment for Schizophrenia Worksheet Pack | 6-page PDF packet (Source: Dr. Michael DiPaolo, PhD)

Grief & Loss

• Activities for Grieving Children | 7-page PDF packet (Source: Youth Light)
• Bereavement Handouts | A small collection of handouts (Source: Hospice & Palliative Care)
• The Center for Complicated Grief: Handouts | Assessments, handouts, and guides (Source: The Center for Complicated Grief)
• A Child’s Understanding of Death | 11-page packet (Source: Pikes Peak Hospice)
• Grief Recovery Pyramid | 7-page PDF packet (Source: Arlene Taylor, PhD)
• Loss, Grief, Bereavement Supplemental Teaching Materials/Training Session Activities Contents | 35-page PDF packet (Source: Hospice Education Network)
• MyGriefAssist: Grief Factsheets | Source: MyGriefAssist
• OneLegacy: Handouts to Download and Print | Handouts on grief and loss (Source: OneLegacy)
• Printable Grief and Loss Resources | A fairly extensive collection of printable handouts on grief and loss (Source: Hamilton’s Funeral & After Life Services)
• Worksheets to Help Those Coping with Grief | A collection of handouts/worksheets for download (Source: Peacefully)
• Anger: Causes and Coping Strategies | 14-page PDF packet (Source: Indian Railway Psycho-Technical Directorate)
• Anger Management | 13-page PDF packet (Source: Carleton University, Criminal Justice Decision Making Laboratory & Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services)
• Anger Management Techniques | 4-page PDF (Source: Hellenic College Holy Cross)
• Anger Management Tools | A short list of downloadable resources (Source: Tim’s Resource Notebook)
• Anger Management Worksheets | A few free therapy worksheets/handouts for anger (Source: Anger Management Resource)
• Dealing with Anger | 7-page PDF packet (Source: Inner Health Studio)
• Free Anger Management Worksheets: Letting Go of Anger | A small collection of worksheets for anger management (Source: Gentle Stress Relief)
• Getting to Know Your Anger | 42-page PDF packet (Source: Wellness Reproductions)
• LoveToKnow: Free Anger Worksheets | 7 downloadable anger management worksheets (Source: LoveToKnow)
• Steps for Change: Anger Management Worksheets | Source: Steps for Change

Self-Esteem

• Free Self-Esteem Worksheets | Source: Self-Esteem 2 Go
• Growing Self-Esteem: Self-Esteem Worksheets | Source: Growing-Self-Esteem.com
• My 101 Accomplishments | 6-page PDF booklet (Source: Rec Therapy Today)
• Self-Esteem Activities | A modest collection of handouts/activities for self-esteem (Source: Doorways to Self-Esteem)
• Self-Esteem Experts: Self-Esteem Activities | Printable handouts on self-esteem (Source: Self-Esteem Experts)
• Spiritual Self-Schema Development Worksheets: Yale School of Medicine
• Strategies to Build Healthy Self-Esteem | 7-page PDF packet (Source: McGill)

Values & Goal-Setting

• 10 Free Printable Goal-Setting Worksheets | Source: Parade
• Core Values and Essential Intentions Worksheet | 2-page PDF worksheet (Source: Life Balance Institute)
• Core Values Clarification Exercise | 4-page PDF worksheet (Source: University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension)
• Core Values Worksheet | 4-page PDF (Source: Mike Desjardins)
• Life Values Inventory | 5-page PDF (Source: Brown, Duane & R. Kelly Crace, 1996, Life Values Resources, [email protected])
• Personal Values Card Sort | 9-page PDF (Source: Miller, C’de Baca, Matthews, Wilbourne, 2001, University of New Mexico)
• Values | 2-page PDF worksheet (Source: Miller, C’de Baca, Matthews, 1994, Values Card Sort, University of New Mexico)
• Values and Goals Worksheet | 1-page PDF worksheet (Source: James Drew, LPC)
• Values Assessment Worksheet | 2-page PDF worksheet (Source: Carleton University)
• Values Exercise | 2-page PDF worksheet (Source: TapRooT)
• Values Identification Worksheet | 6-page PDF worksheet (Source: Synergy Institute Online)
• What Are My Values? | 4-page PDF worksheet (Source: stephaniefrank.com)

Wellness & Resiliency

• Assessing Your Life Balance | 3-page PDF (Source: UCI)
• The Blissful Mind: Wellness Wheel | A 5-page PDF packet
• Counseling Library: Handouts on Emotional Wellness | Source: Morning Light Counseling
• Dearborn County CASA: 8 Dimensions of Wellness | 4 wellness downloads
• Essential Life Skills: Self-Help Worksheets | A collection of free downloadable tools and therapy worksheets on topics related to wellness, balance, and resilience
• Experiential Group Exercises for Shame-Resilience | 4-page PDF packet with questions for discussion and group activities (Source: Haymarket Center)
• Free Printable Self-Improvement Worksheets | Source: Holistic Life by Kate
• Free Tools | Handouts, worksheets, and workbooks including mindful coloring sheets (Source: The Wellness Society)
• Handouts and Worksheets | 21-page PDF packet with handouts and worksheets on self-care topics (Source: Psychological First Aid for Schools Field Operations Guide)
• Hoffman Institute Tools | Downloadable tools for change (Source: Hoffman Institute)
• Homework and Handouts for Clients | Handouts and worksheets related to self-compassion (Source: ACT With Compassion)
• Managing Emotional Intelligence | 7-page PDF packet (Source: Moxie Consulting, Inc.)
• Personal Development | Handouts on resilience, communication, etc. (Source: Workplace Strategies for Mental Health)
• Relaxing Mindfulness Activities for Teens | Change to Chill | Printable worksheets, coloring sheets, and DIY activities (Source: Change to Chill) 🆕
• Self-Care and Wellness Resources | Printable handouts and tools (Source: irenegreene.com)
• Self-Care Starter Kit | Handouts on self-care topics (Source: UB School of Social Work)
• University of Utah Health: Wellness Educational Materials | Downloadable handouts on health topics
• U.S. Department of Veterans: The Healing Power of Hope and Optimism | A 5-page PDF
• UW Integrative Health: Clinician and Patient Education | Downloadable tools on health and wellness topics
• Wellness Toolkits | Printable toolkits (Source: NIH)
• Realize Your Meaning & Purpose
• Engage with Others
• Identify Possibilities
• Identify Strengths & Values
• Emotional Management
• Create a Resilient Mindset
• Expand Your Perspective

ACT, CBT, & DBT Therapy Worksheets

• ACT Mindfully: Worksheets, Book Chapters & ACT Made Simple | ACT worksheets and other free resources (Source: ACT Mindfully)
• Carolina Integrative Psychotherapy: Forms and Worksheets for Clients and Group Participants | A small collection of DBT therapy worksheets and handouts (Source: Carolina Integrative Psychotherapy)
• Carol Lozier, LCSW: Dialectical Behavior Therapy Printables: Worksheets and Handouts | A small collection of DBT handouts and worksheets (Source: Carol Lozier, LCSW)
• Cognitive Therapy Skills | 33-page packet (Source: Michigan Medicine)
• Counseling Library: Handouts on CBT Skills and Strategies | Source: Morning Light Counseling
• Clinician Worksheets and Handouts: Clinician Treatment Tools | A variety of CBT, DBT, etc. therapy worksheets (Source: Coping.us)
• DBT Peer Connections: DBT Handouts and Worksheets | DBT resources (Source: DBT Peer Connections)
• DBT Self-Help | Printable lessons and diary cards (Source: DBT Self-Help)
• DBT Work Sheets Index | Source: Dialectical Behavioral Skills Training
• Dr. Grant Blashki: CBT Worksheets | A small collection of downloadable therapy worksheets (Source: Dr. Grant Blashki)
• Dr. John Forsyth: Free Resources | Two free packets of worksheets (ACT and mindfulness) (Source: Dr. John Forsyth)
• Dr. Jonathan S. Abramowitz: Free Stuff for Consumers and Professionals
• Intro to DBT (Handouts & Worksheets) | 8-page PDF (Source: Peer-Guided DBT Lessons)
• Living CBT: Free Self-Help | 20+ CBT worksheets (Source: Living CBT)
• Online CBT Resources | Worksheets and questionnaires from Andrew Grimmer, a counselling psychologist and accredited cognitive behavioural psychotherapist in the UK (Source: Online CBT Resources)
• Printable Versions of CPT/CBT Worksheets | English and Spanish worksheets (Source: F.A.S.T. Lab at Stanford Medicine)
• Veronica Walsh’s CBT Blog: Free Downloadable Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Worksheets/Handouts | Print/use these therapy worksheets only with blog author’s permission (Source: Veronica Walsh’s CBT Blog Dublin, Ireland)

Therapy Worksheets for Children & Youth

• A Collection of Anger Management/Impulse Control Activities & Lesson Plans (PreK-3rd Grade) | 64-page PDF packet (Source: Childcare Consultation Staff)
• Activities for Grieving Children | 7-page PDF (Source: Youth Light)
• Cope-Cake: Coping Skills Worksheets and Game | 30-page packet for young children/students (Source: Closet Counselor)
• Crossroads Counseling Center: Resources | Handouts on depression, anxiety, ADHD, etc. in children (Source: Crossroads Counseling Center)
• Curriculum Materials from Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center | Links to handouts (Source: University of Pittsburgh, School of Social Work)
• Emotional Intelligence Activities for Children Ages 5-7 | 34-page PDF packet (Source: Ohio National Guard Family Readiness and Warrior Support Program Youth Programs)
• Emotional Intelligence Activities for Children Ages 8-10 | 33-page PDF packet (Source: Ohio National Guard Family Readiness and Warrior Support Program Youth Programs)
• Mylemarks: Free Downloads | Therapy worksheets for children (Source: Mylemarks)
• Oklahoma TF-CBT Therapy Resources | Printable trauma-focused handouts and assessments for therapists to use with children and adolescents (Source: Oklahoma TF-CBT Therapy Resources)
• Prevention Dimensions: Lesson Plans | Downloadable PDF handouts for children from kindergarten to sixth grade (Source: Utah Education Network)
• Printable Worksheets | Worksheets for children on physical activity, substance abuse, nutrition, and more (Source: BJC School Outreach and Youth Development)
• Social Emotional Activities Workbook | 74-page PDF packet (Source: Los Angeles Unified School District)
• Social Skills Worksheets | A packet of therapy worksheets to use with children/youth (Source: Julie MacRae & Sara Noble, Minneapolis Public Schools)
• Stress Reduction Activities for Students | 20-page PDF packet (Source: Student, Family, and Community Support Department)
• Thriving at Home: Telehealth Play Therapy Activities for Licensed Therapists | 15-page PDF packet with activities for therapists to use with children and families (Source: MindPeace Cincinnati)

Therapy Worksheets for Adolescents & Young Adults

• 101 Wellness Tips for College Students | A 7-page PDF (Source: Stetson)
• Brescia University College: Resource Toolbox | Downloadable tools for students
• Emotional Intelligence Activities for Pre-Teens Ages 11-12 | 33-page PDF packet (Source: Ohio National Guard Family Readiness and Warrior Support Program Youth Programs)
• Emotional Intelligence Activities for Teens Ages 13-18 | 34-page PDF packet (Source: Ohio National Guard Family Readiness and Warrior Support Program Youth Programs)
• Eppler-Wolff Counseling Center Handouts | Handouts for college students (Source: Union College)
• Just for Teens: A Personal Plan for Managing Stress | 7-page PDF handout (Source: American Academy of Pediatrics from Reaching Teens: Strength-Based Communication Strategies to Build Resilience and Support Healthy Adolescent Development )
• Oregon State University: Learning Corner | Student worksheets on time management, wellness, organization skills, etc. (Source: Oregon State University Academic Success Center)
• The Relaxation Room | Self-care and stress management handouts for college students (Source: Andrews University)
• Resilience Toolkit | PDF handouts for college students on resiliency (Source: Winona State University)
• Self-Help Resources | Links to articles for college students on a variety of topics (not in PDF form) (Source: Metropolitan Community College Counseling Services)
• Step UP! Resource Library | Worksheets/handouts for students on prosocial behavior and bystander intervention (Source: Step UP!)
• Teens Finding Hope: Worksheets and Information to Download | Spanish and English PDFs available (Source: Teens Finding Hope)
• Tip Sheets | Student tip sheets on anger, body image, relationships, and other topics (Source: Meredith College Counseling Center)
• Tools & Checklists | Therapy worksheets and handouts for students (Source: Campus Mind Works, University of Michigan)
• UC Berkeley University Health Services Resources | Links to handouts, articles, and self-help tools for students (Source: UC Berkeley)
• UMatter | Tools for college students on wellness, communication, healthy relationships, and more (Source: Princeton University)
• Western Carolina University Counseling and Psychological Services: Self-Help | A modest collection of student wellness handouts along with a printable self-help workbook (Source: WCU)
• Your Life Your Voice: Tips and Tools | Links to articles and PDF printables on a variety of topics for teens and young adults (Source: Your Life Your Voice from Boys Town)

Therapy Worksheets for Marriage/Relationships & Family

• 12 Types of Intimacy | Source: Tim’s Resource Notebook
• 21 Couples Therapy Worksheets, Techniques, & Activities | Source: Positive Psychology
• Articles for Parenting | Links to various articles/handouts (not in PDF form) (Source: MomMD)
• Counseling Library: Handouts on Gender Differences | Source: Morning Light Counseling
• Dialogue Question Ideas | Source: Tim’s Resource Notebook
• Emotionally Focused Therapy: Forms for Couples | A list of forms to use in EFT couples counseling (Source: Training and Research Institute for Emotionally Focused Therapy Alliant)
• Exercises for Forgiveness | 7-page PDF for recovering from an emotional affair (Source: Emotional Affair Journey)
• Focus on Feelings | Source: Tim’s Resource Notebook
• Healthy Boundaries | 3-page PDF handout (Source: Larry L. Winckles)
• Healthy Boundaries Program | 15-page PDF packet (Source: The University of Toledo Police Department)
• Healthy Boundaries vs. Unhealthy Boundaries | 6-page PDF handout (Source: kimsaeed.com)
• Homework Page: Tools for Growth and Communication | Therapy worksheets, handouts, and assessments for couples and families (Source: Present Centered Therapy)
• How We Love: Freebies | A small collection of free downloads (Source: How We Love)
• Imago Work-Up Exercise | 2-page PDF (Source: The Mindful Ecotherapy Center)
• Joy2MeU | A collection of articles by Robert Burney on relationships, codependency, and related topics (not in PDF form) (Source: Joy2MeU.com)
• Learning to Forgive: The 5 Steps to Forgiveness | 6-page PDF handout (Source: Thriveworks)
• My Marriage/Relationship: Where Am I Now? | Source: Tim’s Resource Notebook
• New Beginnings Family Counseling: Handouts | Handouts on communication, attachment styles, emotions, etc. (Source: New Beginnings Family Counseling)
• Parenting Worksheets | 14-page PDF packet for parents (Source: Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board) 🆕
• Pasadena Marriage Counseling: Free Marriage Counseling Resources | A small collection of worksheets for couples therapy (Source: Pasadena Marriage Counseling)
• Radical Forgiveness: Free Tools | A small collection of therapy worksheets on forgiveness (Source: Radical Forgiveness)
• Relationship Communication | Source: Tim’s Resource Notebook
• Relationship Worksheet | Source: Tim’s Resource Notebook
• Resources & Information | A collection of articles, handouts, and assessments for marriage and relationships (Source: The Relationship Institute)
• Signs of Unhealthy Boundaries | 6-page PDF handout (Source: Healing Private Wounds)
• Thriving Couples Hierarchy | Source: Tim’s Resource Notebook
• Worksheets for Couples | Faith-based therapy worksheets/handouts (Source: Hope Couples)

Additional Therapy Worksheets & Handouts

• 8 Helpful “Letting Go of Resentment” Worksheets | Links to PDF therapy worksheets (Source: Invisible Lioness)
• Acorns to Oaktrees: Eating Disorder Worksheets/Eating Disorder Forms | A small collection of handouts for eating disorders (Source: Acorns to Oaktrees)
• Activity eBooks | A collection of downloadable workbooks on self-esteem, social skills, emotions, etc. (Source: Rec Therapy Today)
• ADHD ReWired: Therapy Worksheets | Thought records, behavior charts, and other tools (Source: ADHD ReWired)
• Alzheimer’s Association: Downloadable Resources | Handouts on Alzheimer’s (Source: Alzheimer’s Association)
• Attitudes and Behaviour | 9-page PDF packet on criminal thinking (Source: Carleton University, Criminal Justice Decision Making Laboratory & Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services)
• Commonly Prescribed Psychotropic Medications | 4-page PDF (Source: NAMI Minnesota)
• Conflict Resolution Skills | 6-page PDF packet (Source: Edmonds College)
• Coping Skills | 2-page PDF worksheet (Source: Temple University)
• Counseling Library: Handouts on Personality Differences | Source: Morning Light Counseling
• EDA Step Worksheets | 37-page packet (Source: Eating Disorders Anonymous)
• Free Mindfulness Worksheets | A large collection of mindfulness handouts (Source: Mindfulness Exercises)
• Free, Printable Coloring Pages for Adults | Source: The Spruce Crafts
• GoYourOwnWay Document Downloads | Downloads for veterans on various topics (Source: GoYourOwnWay)
• Guilt vs. Shame Infographic: National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine | Printable infographic to illustrate the differences (Source: NICABM)
• Integrated Health and Mental Health Care Tools | Downloadable resources from UIC Center (Source: University of Illinois at Chicago)
• International OCD Foundation: Assessments & Worksheets | Handouts for use with individuals with OCD (Source: IOCDF)
• Managing Your OCD at Home | 7-page PDF packet (Source: Anxiety Canada)
• Motivation To Change | 16-page PDF packet on motivation to change criminal behavior (Source: Carleton University, Criminal Justice Decision Making Laboratory & Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services)
• Multicultural Psychology: Downloadable Worksheets & Documents
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: Identification and Self-Help Strategies | 10-page PDF packet (Source: University of Alberta)
• Peers & Relationships | 12-page PDF packet on how associates impact criminal behavior (Source: Carleton University, Criminal Justice Decision Making Laboratory & Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services)
• Prochaska and DiClemente’s Stages of Change Model | 4-page PDF handout (Source: Step UP!)
• Quick Reference to Psychotropic Medication | Downloadable PDF chart (Source: John Preston, PsyD)
• Reducing Self-Harm | 5-page PDF (Source: Students Against Depression)
• Self-Directed Recovery | Downloadable resources (Source: UIC Center)
• Shame Psychoeducation Handout | 5-page PDF handout (Source: Association for Contextual Behavioral Science)
• Stages of Change: Primary Tasks | 2-page PDF handout (Source: UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs)
• Telehealth Therapy Resources | A collection of therapy worksheets and resources (Telehealth Therapy Resources)
• Understanding and Coping with Guilt and Shame | 4-page PDF handout (Source: Taking the Escalator)

Please contact me if a link isn’t working or if you’d like to recommend a site with free therapy worksheets!

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16 thoughts on “200+ Sites with Free Therapy Worksheets & Handouts”

• Pingback: Worksheets, Activities, & Guides for Individual or Group Therapy – Mind ReMake Project

Any Richard Swartz Internal Family Systems or EMDR material?

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• Pingback: A Place of Hope for Finding a Therapist to Treat Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | CPTSDfoundation.org

This is a wonderful collection of materials

Patricia Swick Ottawa Ontario

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this is woderful , this kind of writing and site will change the lives of millions of people thanks a lot from Program your Mind for ultimate Success

Thank you for providing these free resources to the public.

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• Pingback: Free Resources for Professionals in Mental and Behavioral Health - TheraNest
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PAID $29.95 (?) for “Adult Coloring Pages” after completing all of the free pages a few months ago. I’ve been getting one new page every day, paid for 1 yr. Subscription. Haven’t received a new page in at least 3 days. I have NO IDEA how to Contact them about this oversight and want service to be restored, or Refund my Payment. (Also, I’d like to let them know that some of the pages are Repeat Images from their free pages.) They are a variety of Categories: Mandelas, Plants, Animals, major Holidays, Food, People, Graphic Design Patterns, etc. — A good mix of Subject matters. 4 identical inline images each available to be Colored. These are just Coloring Pages, no Doctor or Psychological affiliations to these images.) How can I contact them to Continue my Subscription or Refund my Payment?? PLEASE HELP ME FIND THE SOURCE CO. Thank You SO Very Much!!

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Family Therapy Homework Planner, Second Edition 2nd Edition

The Family Therapy Homework Planner, Second Edition provides you with an array of ready-to-use, between-session assignments designed to fit virtually every therapeutic mode. This easy-to-use sourcebook features:

New and updated homework assignments consistent with evidence-based therapies and grouped by presenting problems including adoption, communication issues, interracial family problems, sexual abuse, and school concerns

78 ready-to-copy exercises covering the most common issues encountered by families in therapy, such as family-of-origin interference, depression in family members, divorce, financial conflict, adolescent and parent conflicts, traumatic life events, and dependency issues

Expert guidance on how and when to make the most efficient use of the exercises

Assignments that are cross-referenced to The Family Therapy Treatment Planner, Second Edition —so you can quickly identify the right exercise for a given situation or problem

A CD-ROM that contains all the exercises in a word-processing format—allowing you to customize them to suit you and your clients’ unique styles and needs

Additional resources in the Practice Planners ® series:

Treatment Planners cover all the necessary elements for developing formal treatment plans, including detailed problem definitions, long-term goals, short-term objectives, therapeutic interventions, and DSM TM  diagnoses.

For more information on our Practice Planners ® products, including our full line of Treatment Planners, visit us on the Web at: www.wiley.com/practiceplanners

• ISBN-10 0470504390
• ISBN-13 978-0470504390
• Edition 2nd
• Publisher Wiley
• Publication date July 6, 2010
• Language English
• Dimensions 8.6 x 0.58 x 11.05 inches
• Print length 264 pages
• See all details

Product details

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wiley; 2nd edition (July 6, 2010)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 264 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0470504390
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0470504390
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.4 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.6 x 0.58 x 11.05 inches
• #3,157 in Psychotherapy
• #5,458 in Medical Counseling
• #6,680 in Medical Clinical Psychology

About the author

Louis bevilacqua.

Louis J. Bevilacqua, Psy.D. is a Clinical Psychologist and Regional Director of Outpatient Services for Elements Behavioral Health. Dr. Bevilacqua maintains a clinical practice in West Chester, PA. Please visit his website at www.drlouonline.com for more information and to read his weekly blogs offering support and guidance in managing emotions and life stress. Dr. Bevilacqua received his doctorate in Clinical Psychology at The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine under the direction of Arthur Freeman, Ed.D., ABPP. Dr. Bevilacqua specializes in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy of mood disorders, co-occurring disorders, family therapy, and treating self-injurious behaviors. His other publications include Comparative Treatments for Relationship Dysfunction and The Brief Family Therapy Homework Planner (now in its second edition), both co-edited with Dr. Frank Dattilio, as well as The Group Therapy Homework Planner. His latest book, "When You Can't Snap Out of it: Finding Your Way Through Depression provides practical ways to manage and overcome the symptoms of depression. Dr. Bevilacqua lives in PA with his wife and three daughters.

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What Is Therapy Homework?

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Types of Therapy That Involve Homework

If you’ve recently started going to therapy , you may find yourself being assigned therapy homework. You may wonder what exactly it entails and what purpose it serves. Therapy homework comprises tasks or assignments that your therapist asks you to complete between sessions, says Nicole Erkfitz , DSW, LCSW, a licensed clinical social worker and executive director at AMFM Healthcare, Virginia.

Homework can be given in any form of therapy, and it may come as a worksheet, a task to complete, or a thought/piece of knowledge you are requested to keep with you throughout the week, Dr. Erkfitz explains.

This article explores the role of homework in certain forms of therapy, the benefits therapy homework can offer, and some tips to help you comply with your homework assignments.

Therapy homework can be assigned as part of any type of therapy. However, some therapists and forms of therapy may utilize it more than others.

For instance, a 2019-study notes that therapy homework is an integral part of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) . According to Dr. Erkfitz, therapy homework is built into the protocol and framework of CBT, as well as dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) , which is a sub-type of CBT.

Therefore, if you’re seeing a therapist who practices CBT or DBT, chances are you’ll regularly have homework to do.

On the other hand, an example of a type of therapy that doesn’t generally involve homework is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. EMDR is a type of therapy that generally relies on the relationship between the therapist and client during sessions and is a modality that specifically doesn’t rely on homework, says Dr. Erkfitz.

However, she explains that if the client is feeling rejuvenated and well after their processing session, for instance, their therapist may ask them to write down a list of times that their positive cognition came up for them over the next week.

"Regardless of the type of therapy, the best kind of homework is when you don’t even realize you were assigned homework," says Erkfitz.

Benefits of Therapy Homework

Below, Dr. Erkfitz explains the benefits of therapy homework.

It Helps Your Therapist Review Your Progress

The most important part of therapy homework is the follow-up discussion at the next session. The time you spend reviewing with your therapist how the past week went, if you completed your homework, or if you didn’t and why, gives your therapist valuable feedback on your progress and insight on how they can better support you.

It Gives Your Therapist More Insight

Therapy can be tricky because by the time you are committed to showing up and putting in the work, you are already bringing a better and stronger version of yourself than what you have been experiencing in your day-to-day life that led you to seek therapy.

Homework gives your therapist an inside look into your day-to-day life, which can sometimes be hard to recap in a session. Certain homework assignments keep you thinking throughout the week about what you want to share during your sessions, giving your therapist historical data to review and address.

It Helps Empower You

The sense of empowerment you can gain from utilizing your new skills, setting new boundaries , and redirecting your own cognitive distortions is something a therapist can’t give you in the therapy session. This is something you give yourself. Therapy homework is how you come to the realization that you got this and that you can do it.

"The main benefit of therapy homework is that it builds your skills as well as the understanding that you can do this on your own," says Erkfitz.

Tips for Your Therapy Homework

Below, Dr. Erkfitz shares some tips that can help with therapy homework:

• Set aside time for your homework: Create a designated time to complete your therapy homework. The aim of therapy homework is to keep you thinking and working on your goals between sessions. Use your designated time as a sacred space to invest in yourself and pour your thoughts and emotions into your homework, just as you would in a therapy session .
• Be honest: As therapists, we are not looking for you to write down what you think we want to read or what you think you should write down. It’s important to be honest with us, and yourself, about what you are truly feeling and thinking.
• Practice your skills: Completing the worksheet or log are important, but you also have to be willing to put your skills and learnings into practice. Allow yourself to be vulnerable and open to trying new things so that you can report back to your therapist about whether what you’re trying is working for you or not.
• Remember that it’s intended to help you: Therapy homework helps you maximize the benefits of therapy and get the most value out of the process. A 2013-study notes that better homework compliance is linked to better treatment outcomes.
• Talk to your therapist if you’re struggling: Therapy homework shouldn’t feel like work. If you find that you’re doing homework as a monotonous task, talk to your therapist and let them know that your heart isn’t in it and that you’re not finding it beneficial. They can explain the importance of the tasks to you, tailor your assignments to your preferences, or change their course of treatment if need be.

"When the therapy homework starts 'hitting home' for you, that’s when you know you’re on the right track and doing the work you need to be doing," says Erkfitz.

A Word From Verywell

Similar to how school involves classwork and homework, therapy can also involve in-person sessions and homework assignments.

If your therapist has assigned you homework, try to make time to do it. Completing it honestly can help you and your therapist gain insights into your emotional processes and overall progress. Most importantly, it can help you develop coping skills and practice them, which can boost your confidence, empower you, and make your therapeutic process more effective.

Get Help Now

We've tried, tested, and written unbiased reviews of the best online therapy programs including Talkspace, BetterHelp, and ReGain. Find out which option is the best for you.

Conklin LR, Strunk DR, Cooper AA. Therapist behaviors as predictors of immediate homework engagement in cognitive therapy for depression . Cognit Ther Res . 2018;42(1):16-23. doi:10.1007/s10608-017-9873-6

Lebeau RT, Davies CD, Culver NC, Craske MG. Homework compliance counts in cognitive-behavioral therapy . Cogn Behav Ther . 2013;42(3):171-179. doi:10.1080/16506073.2013.763286

By Sanjana Gupta Sanjana is a health writer and editor. Her work spans various health-related topics, including mental health, fitness, nutrition, and wellness.

Empowering Recovery: Transformative Therapy Homework Assignments

The power of therapy homework.

Therapy homework is an integral part of the therapeutic process that extends the benefits of therapy beyond the therapy room. It involves assignments and activities that clients are encouraged to complete between therapy sessions to facilitate healing, growth, and recovery. By actively engaging in therapy homework, individuals can take ownership of their progress and empower themselves on their journey towards well-being.

What is Therapy Homework?

Therapy homework refers to the tasks, exercises, and activities assigned by therapists to their clients with the aim of reinforcing and extending the benefits of therapy. These assignments are tailored to address specific therapeutic goals and objectives, focusing on areas such as self-reflection, skill-building, and behavioral changes. Therapy homework can take various forms, including journaling, self-reflection exercises, mindfulness practices, and behavioral experiments.

Therapy homework serves as a bridge between therapy sessions, allowing individuals to apply the insights gained in therapy to their daily lives. It encourages active participation and engagement in the therapeutic process, enabling clients to develop a deeper understanding of themselves, their emotions, and their thought patterns. Through regular completion of therapy homework, individuals can cultivate new coping strategies, enhance self-awareness, and promote personal growth.

How Therapy Homework Can Support Recovery

Therapy homework plays a crucial role in supporting recovery by reinforcing the therapeutic work done during sessions. Here are some ways in which therapy homework can contribute to the recovery process:

• Continuity of Learning:  Therapy homework provides a continuous learning experience, allowing clients to build upon the insights gained during therapy sessions. It helps reinforce new skills, coping strategies, and perspectives, facilitating lasting change and growth.
• Application of Skills:  By engaging in therapy homework, individuals have the opportunity to apply the skills and techniques learned in therapy to real-life situations. This practical application helps strengthen and solidify new behaviors and thought patterns.
• Increased Self-Awareness:  Therapy homework encourages self-reflection and introspection, fostering a deeper understanding of one’s emotions, behaviors, and patterns of thinking. This increased self-awareness can lead to greater insight and personal growth.
• Empowerment:  Active participation in therapy homework empowers individuals to take charge of their own healing process. It allows them to be proactive in their recovery journey, develop a sense of agency, and take ownership of their progress.
• Consolidation of Progress:  Regular completion of therapy homework reinforces the progress made in therapy sessions. It helps maintain momentum, prevents relapse, and supports long-term recovery.

Therapy homework is a collaborative process between the therapist and the client. It involves setting realistic goals, tailoring assignments to suit individual preferences and needs, and providing ongoing support and feedback. By embracing therapy homework, individuals can enhance their therapeutic experience, accelerate their progress, and empower themselves on their path to recovery . To explore specific examples of therapy homework assignments, check out our articles on  therapy homework for anxiety  and  therapy homework for depression .

Types of Therapy Homework Assignments

Therapy homework assignments play a vital role in supporting the therapeutic process and helping individuals make progress towards their goals. There are several types of therapy homework assignments that therapists can assign to their clients. Here, we will explore three common types:  journaling and self-reflection exercises ,  behavioral and habit-forming assignments , and  mindfulness and meditation practices .

Journaling and Self-Reflection Exercises

Journaling and self-reflection exercises are powerful tools for promoting self-awareness and personal growth. Through the act of writing, individuals can explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences in a structured manner. Journaling can help individuals gain insights into their patterns of thinking, identify triggers, and reflect on their progress.

Therapists may assign specific journaling prompts or provide worksheets to guide clients in their self-reflection journey. These exercises can focus on various topics, such as exploring emotions, identifying cognitive distortions, practicing gratitude, or tracking behaviors. Journaling can also be used as a platform for  therapy homework for self-expression  and  therapy homework for creativity .

Behavioral and Habit-Forming Assignments

Behavioral and habit-forming assignments are designed to help individuals make positive changes in their behavior and develop healthier habits. These assignments are often action-oriented and require individuals to practice new skills or engage in specific activities outside of therapy sessions.

For example, a therapist may assign tasks related to assertiveness training, stress management techniques, anger management strategies, or goal setting exercises. These assignments encourage individuals to actively apply the concepts discussed in therapy to their daily lives. By practicing new behaviors and breaking old patterns, individuals can work towards their therapeutic goals.

Mindfulness and Meditation Practices

Mindfulness and meditation practices are widely recognized for their ability to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and increase self-awareness. Therapists may assign mindfulness exercises and meditation practices as part of therapy homework to help individuals cultivate mindfulness in their daily lives.

These assignments can include guided meditations, breathing exercises, body scans, or mindful awareness activities. By incorporating mindfulness into their routine, individuals can learn to observe their thoughts and emotions without judgment, cultivate present-moment awareness, and develop a greater sense of calm and clarity.

By incorporating a variety of therapy homework assignments, therapists can cater to the unique needs of each individual and provide a well-rounded approach to therapy. It’s important for therapists to assess client goals and preferences when assigning homework, ensuring that the assignments are relevant, engaging, and align with the client’s therapeutic journey. For more therapy homework ideas, check out our article on  therapy homework ideas .

Customizing Assignments for Individual Needs

To ensure the effectiveness of therapy homework assignments, it is essential to  customize  them according to the  individual needs  of each client. This personalized approach allows therapists to address specific goals and objectives, tailoring the assignments to suit the client’s preferences and circumstances.

Assessing Client Goals and Objectives

Before creating therapy homework assignments, therapists must first  assess  their clients’ goals and objectives. By understanding what clients hope to achieve through therapy, therapists can design assignments that align with their desired outcomes. For example, if a client’s goal is to improve their communication skills, therapy homework assignments may focus on practicing active listening, assertiveness, or conflict resolution. By linking the assignments directly to the client’s goals, the therapeutic process becomes more targeted and effective.

Tailoring Assignments to Suit Individual Preferences

Each client is unique, and their preferences and learning styles should be taken into consideration when designing therapy homework assignments. Some clients may prefer written exercises and journaling, while others may be more receptive to artistic or creative expression . By tailoring the assignments to suit individual preferences, therapists can increase engagement and motivation, leading to a more productive therapeutic experience.

For example, a client who enjoys writing may find value in self-reflection exercises or the use of  writing and narrative therapy techniques . On the other hand, a client who is more visually oriented might benefit from artistic assignments or creative expression through art therapy. By incorporating activities that resonate with the client’s preferences, therapy homework becomes more enjoyable and meaningful.

By customizing therapy homework assignments, therapists can optimize the therapeutic process and enhance client outcomes. It ensures that assignments are directly aligned with the client’s goals and objectives, promoting a sense of ownership and motivation in their recovery journey. Additionally, tailoring assignments to suit individual preferences increases engagement and enjoyment, fostering a positive therapeutic alliance.

Remember to explore a variety of therapy homework ideas to meet the diverse needs of your clients. Whether it’s therapy homework for self-esteem, mindfulness, relaxation, or any other topic, the key is to create assignments that are relevant, meaningful, and effective. By providing personalized and tailored assignments, therapists can empower their clients in their recovery process.

Incorporating Creativity in Therapy Assignments

To enhance the therapeutic process and encourage self-expression, incorporating  creativity  into therapy assignments can be highly beneficial. Creative activities provide clients with a unique outlet for exploring their emotions, thoughts, and experiences. In this section, we will explore two popular approaches:  art therapy and creative expression  as well as  writing and narrative therapy techniques .

Art Therapy and Creative Expression

Art therapy involves using various artistic mediums to facilitate self-expression, reflection, and healing. Through painting, drawing, sculpting, or collage-making, clients can tap into their creativity and communicate their inner world visually. Art therapy can be particularly effective for individuals who struggle with verbal expression or find it challenging to articulate their emotions.

Engaging in art therapy allows clients to explore their thoughts and feelings in a non-threatening and non-judgmental manner. The creative process itself can be therapeutic, providing a sense of control, empowerment, and catharsis. Art therapists often guide clients in interpreting their artwork, helping them uncover deeper insights and gain a better understanding of themselves.

Integrating creative expression into therapy assignments can offer clients an opportunity to engage with their emotions in a different way. For example, a therapist might suggest creating a collage that represents their goals, dreams, or emotions. This visual representation can serve as a powerful tool for self-reflection and exploration. To learn more about incorporating art therapy into your practice, explore our article on  therapy homework for creative expression .

Writing and Narrative Therapy Techniques

Writing can be a powerful therapeutic tool that allows clients to explore their thoughts, emotions, and experiences. Narrative therapy techniques, such as journaling, letter writing, or storytelling, can help clients gain insight, process challenging events, and reframe their narratives.

Journaling is a widely used form of therapy homework that involves writing down thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a journal or diary. This practice provides an opportunity for self-reflection, self-expression, and problem-solving. Clients can explore their innermost thoughts, identify patterns, and track progress over time. To discover various journaling exercises for therapy, refer to our article on  therapy homework for journaling .

Another approach is letter writing, where clients address letters to themselves, others, or even abstract concepts like their fears or past traumas. This process can be cathartic and empowering, allowing clients to express emotions that may be difficult to articulate in person. Writing a letter can help clients gain closure, find forgiveness , or express gratitude. It provides a safe space for processing emotions and can be revisited as a source of reflection and growth.

By incorporating these creative techniques into therapy assignments, therapists can encourage clients to explore their inner worlds and gain new perspectives. It’s important to remember that creativity is a personal experience, and different clients may resonate with different forms of expression. As a therapist, offering a range of options and tailoring assignments to suit individual preferences can enhance the therapeutic process.

Maximizing the Benefits of Therapy Homework

To ensure the effectiveness of  therapy homework assignments , it’s important to implement strategies that maximize their benefits. By setting realistic expectations, providing ongoing support and feedback, and fostering collaboration between the therapist and client, therapy homework can become a powerful tool for transformation and growth.

Setting Realistic Expectations

When assigning therapy homework, it’s crucial to set realistic expectations for the client. This involves discussing the purpose, goals, and anticipated outcomes of the assignments. By clearly communicating the objectives and potential benefits, clients can better understand the value of their efforts and remain motivated throughout the process.

It’s important to emphasize that therapy homework is not a quick fix but rather a gradual process. Encourage clients to approach their assignments with patience and self-compassion , understanding that progress takes time. By managing expectations, clients are more likely to stay committed and experience the full benefits of therapy homework.

Providing Ongoing Support and Feedback

Support and feedback from the therapist play a crucial role in maximizing the benefits of therapy homework. Regular check-ins and discussions about the assignments allow clients to seek clarification, express concerns, and receive guidance. This ongoing support helps clients stay engaged and motivated, knowing that their therapist is there to provide assistance and encouragement.

Additionally, providing constructive feedback on completed assignments is essential for growth and improvement. Acknowledge the effort and progress made by the client, while also providing suggestions and insights to enhance their understanding and application of the concepts discussed in therapy. This feedback loop strengthens the therapeutic relationship and boosts the client’s confidence in their ability to succeed.

Collaboration Between Therapist and Client

Collaboration between the therapist and client is key to optimizing the benefits of therapy homework . By involving the client in the assignment selection process, therapists can tailor the tasks to suit the client’s individual needs, preferences, and therapeutic goals. This collaborative approach fosters a sense of ownership and empowerment, motivating clients to actively engage in their recovery journey.

Regular communication between therapy sessions is crucial for maintaining this collaboration. Clients should feel comfortable reaching out to their therapist for guidance, clarification, or support related to their assignments. This open line of communication ensures that the therapy homework remains aligned with the client’s evolving needs and allows for adjustments when necessary.

By setting realistic expectations, providing ongoing support and feedback, and fostering collaboration, therapists can help clients maximize the benefits of therapy homework. This approach not only enhances the effectiveness of the assignments but also empowers clients to take an active role in their own recovery journey. To explore a wide range of therapy homework ideas and resources, visit our article on  therapy homework ideas .

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What Are Family Therapy & Family Counseling?

Indeed, the “family” is considered “a fundamental organizing structure for human life from birth to death” (Wampler et al., 2020, p. 45).

However, like any other system or structure, it is prone to breaking down.

Family therapists aim to improve relationships and resolve conflicts within the family structure by working with all involved rather than individual clients (Metcalf, 2011).

This article explores the nature of family therapy and the many approaches therapists adopt to support positive change and growth.

Before you continue, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Relationships Exercises for free . These detailed, science-based exercises will help you or your clients build healthy, life-enriching relationships.

This Article Contains

• What Are Family Therapy & Family Counseling? Definitions

Types of Family Therapy

• Online Marriage & Family Therapy Programs: Do They Work?

Recommended Family Counseling Books

Related resources from positivepsychology.com, a take-home message, frequently asked questions, what are family therapy & family counseling definitions.

Family therapists recognize that changing a family system (usually) means disrupting existing relationship patterns and interpersonal communications (Metcalf, 2011).

While family therapists adopt many approaches, they are each typically underpinned by the following four principles (Goldenberg, 2017):

• Family members are intimately connected, so therapy must focus on the beliefs of every member.
• Over time, family members living in close proximity “set up patterns of interacting made up of relatively stable sequences of speech and behavior” (Goldenberg, 2017, p. 26).
• The presenting problem’s context typically comprises the “interactions, beliefs, and behaviors that therapists observe and engage with” and can be considered the cause and effect (Goldenberg, 2017, p. 26).
• Family problems are often the result of challenges resulting from facing environmental shifts or life changes.

Family therapy and family counseling are closely related terms and often used interchangeably, but with the latter sometimes used as a broader term encompassing various therapeutic approaches and techniques adopted by psychologists, social workers, and other professionals to enhance communication, resolve conflict, and support families facing challenges (American Psychological Association, n.d.; Goldenberg, 2017).

Marriage and family therapy

Marriage and family therapy are forms of psychotherapy that help individuals, couples, and families improve their relationships and resolve conflicts. Their scope involves working with the couple or the entire family rather than one individual (Metcalf, 2011).

Despite differences in how family therapists go about providing opportunities for families to change, all attempt to create a therapeutic environment that (Goldenberg, 2017):

• Encourages self-examination in order to reduce discomfort and conflict
• Mobilizes family resilience and empowerment
• Helps the family members improve their overall functioning

Within marriage therapy, counselors may use various techniques, such as talk therapy, role-play, and homework assignments with the couple (Metcalf, 2011).

Family therapy for mom and son

Family therapy for mothers and sons can be an effective way to address issues that are affecting their relationship and the family as a whole. The therapist will identify communication and behavior patterns within the relationship that contribute to broader problems and suggest approaches to encourage greater understanding and reduce conflict (Metcalf, 2011).

Communication theory and its impact on family therapy

Communication theory involves studying how people exchange information and meaning through verbal and nonverbal messages (Fitzpatrick & Ritchie, 1993).

The impact of communication theory on family therapy and family counseling is significant and can be used to understand how communication patterns within the family structure contribute to or alleviate problems.

Therapists can use communication theory to identify patterns of communication causing conflict or distress within the family and to develop strategies for improving communication and resolving disputes, such as active listening, empathy, and assertiveness.

As a result, clients may be seen from very different perspectives depending on the type of family therapy adopted (Metcalf, 2011; Goldenberg, 2017).

The following is a list of several of the most influential types, but there are others present in the literature.

Structural and strategic family therapy

Structural family therapy and strategic family therapy approaches “are foundational in the field of systemic family therapy due to their emphasis on systemic process over content and altering family interaction patterns that create, maintain, or exacerbate problems” (Wampler et al., 2020, p. 460).

Developed in the late 1960s by Salvador Minuchin, and along with contributions from Charles Fishman, Maryanne Walters, and others, structural family therapy recognizes the importance of the individual within their social context (Wampler et al., 2020).

As such, individuals do not exist in isolation but in relation (both acting and reacting) to the family, with the “family seen as the vehicle for producing individual change” (Wampler et al., 2020, p. 462).

Consequently, rather than one individual being the “guilty party” or “symptom owner,” problems are distributed and often the result of a dysfunctional hierarchy or poor functioning within subsystems (Wampler et al., 2020).

Strategic family therapy arose out of the work of the Mental Research Institute in California in the mid-1950s. Unlike other therapeutic approaches that assume insight leads to change (changing through knowing), the strategic approach suggests change happens before understanding (knowing through changing; Wampler et al., 2020).

Shifts in perception and understanding the system’s rules and family interactional patterns are required to facilitate lasting change (Wampler et al., 2020).

Psychodynamic/psychoeducational therapy

According to psychodynamic theory, “humans have an unconscious mind that influences a person’s behavior” (Wampler et al., 2020, p. 417). As a result, we are often driven by simple, unconscious desires — such as pleasure — that are self-serving.

As far back as Sigmund Freud in the early 20th century, the impact of family on the individual’s character formation and unconscious mind was clear. Therefore, the psychodynamic approach to family therapy emphasizes the importance of exploring family members’ past experiences and relationships to gain insight and understanding into existing problems (Metcalf, 2011).

The psychoeducational therapeutic approach supports providing education and information to families about mental illness and challenging behavior patterns while developing treatment plans for the whole family (Metcalf, 2011).

Narrative family therapy (contextual)

Narrative therapy is recognized as being at the forefront of today’s family therapy and family counseling, “signifying that our knowledge of reality is organized and maintained through stories we tell about ourselves and the world we inhabit” (Goldenberg, 2017, p. 370).

After all, the stories — or narratives — we tell ourselves are the context of our lives. And yet, families often build and maintain self-defeating and harmful narratives about their members.

Narrative therapy involves “respectful, non blaming conversations in which clients are the experts in their own lives and assumed to have the skills and competencies needed to construct more positive stories about themselves” (Goldenberg, 2017, p. 371).

Narrative therapists support families in reframing problems from an internal deficiency or issue within the individual, couple, or family to an unwelcome narrative dominating their lives. The family is encouraged to unite against the problem as a separate entity — with its own political and social context — to be overcome (Goldenberg, 2017).

Circular questioning is a powerful technique used in narrative therapy. It involves asking questions about interactions and relationships within the family system to explore how family members perceive each other’s behaviors, emotions, and thoughts (Rogers & Cooper, 2020).

Systemic and systematic family therapy

Systematic family therapy (also known as systemic family therapy) focuses on the family as a whole rather than individual members. As such, it recognizes that individual psychological issues and conflicts are often influenced by and embedded within the more extensive family system (Goldenberg, 2017).

Using this approach, therapists and counselors consider the family as an interconnected system with unique communication patterns, roles, and dynamics. The approach requires them to establish an alliance with multiple individuals at once and manage various views of the therapeutic alliance (Goldenberg, 2017).

Ultimately, they aim to identify and address dysfunctional patterns within the family system that contribute to individual problems by challenging mental models, accepting ambiguity, and considering multiple generations (Goldenberg, 2017).

Functional family therapy

Functional family therapy is a well-researched approach to the family that “fosters both cognitive and behavioral changes in individuals and their families” (Goldenberg, 2017, p. 335), integrating learning, systems, and family therapy.

This form of therapy aims to go beyond behavior change, helping clients understand that how they act regulates relationships.

Studies have found functional family therapy to be particularly helpful in treating adolescents with problems with substance abuse, violence, and delinquency (Goldenberg, 2017).

Bowenian family therapy

Murray Bowen was a crucial figure in the development of family therapy and one of the developers of the family systems theory. His approach emphasizes both the significance of past relationships (psychodynamic approach) and the family as a unit (systems approach; Goldenberg, 2017).

According to family systems theory (or Bowenian family therapy ), there are eight interlocking concepts (Goldenberg, 2017):

• Differentiation of self
• Nuclear family emotional system
• Family projection process
• Emotional cutoff
• Multigenerational transmission process
• Sibling position
• Societal regression

Bowen preferred to think of himself as a coach, helping family members “become objective researchers into their own ways of functioning” (Goldenberg, 2017, p. 214).

Behavioral and cognitive-behavioral family therapy

“Behavioral and cognitive‐behavioral models for understanding and treating problems in couple and family relationships are well supported empirically” (Wampler et al., 2020, p. 493).

Cognitive interventions that encourage clients to identify those aspects of their thinking that contribute to negative emotional and behavioral responses within the family system have proven valuable, along with testing the validity of cognitions and replacing unhelpful thoughts with more helpful ones (Wampler et al., 2020).

Emotionally Focused Therapy for families

Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) combines a focus on the self with a systems outlook.

EFT “views couples and families in both intrapsychic and interactional terms, helping them gain access to what is emotionally significant for each person” (Goldenberg, 2017, p. 248) while guiding their actions and explorations with the therapeutic relationship .

EFT practitioners focus on what is going on between people rather than what is inherent within each person. They help clients focus on their moment-to-moment inner experiences and relationship events.

Other approaches worthy of note include family constellation therapy and internal family systems therapy . The former focuses on events that have led to family breakdowns to restore balance within the family constellation, and the latter addresses individual healing and growth, recognizing the mind as a system composed of multiple distinct parts (Konkolÿ Thege et al., 2021; Sweezy & Ziskind, 2013).

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Online Marriage & Family Therapy Programs: Do They Work?

With marriage and family therapy and counseling programs increasingly moving online, it is vital that therapists have the necessary digital skills and competencies to support their clients.

In addition, they must consider the impact of remote treatment on the ethical and regulatory codes associated with their work, potentially across multiple borders and states (Blumer et al., 2015).

Equally important is the efficacy of online marriage and family therapy programs.

While the academic literature is limited, research confirms online treatment’s positive value and impact on marriage and family therapy for various issues. Studies have shown remote treatments’ positive effects as equivalent to in-person delivery, benefiting both relational and mental health outcomes (McLean et al., 2021).

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Family counseling is a vital aspect of therapeutic treatment, with many valuable books to support new and existing therapists.

The following books are some of our favorites and help teach the theory, background, and practical steps involved in practicing family therapy and family counseling.

1. It Didn’t Start With You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle – Mark Wolynn

Mark Wolynn shares his deep understanding of inherited trauma in this groundbreaking book and offers new, powerful tools for relieving client suffering.

Wolynn’s extensive experience as a pioneer in inherited family trauma, coupled with his “Core Language Approach,” empowers readers to uncover hidden emotional legacies and provides practical techniques for reconnecting, integrating, and reclaiming life and health.

Find the book on Amazon .

2. Family Ties That Bind: A Self-Help Guide to Change Through Family of Origin Therapy – Ronald W. Richardson

This practical and easy-to-read book offers valuable insights into family dynamics and actionable techniques from family therapy and family counseling to help readers create healthier relationships.

This book explores topics such as self-esteem, spousal dynamics, birth order, and communication skills while guiding readers in understanding the impact of family background on interactions.

The authors offer step-by-step exercises to foster positive changes in all aspects of clients’ lives.

3. Family Therapy: An Overview – Irene Goldenberg

This engaging and comprehensive book equips therapists and interested readers with the knowledge and skills necessary for competent and effective family therapy.

With its practice-oriented approach, this ninth edition delves into essential viewpoints, intervention techniques, and the goals of family therapy, from evidence-based practice research to addressing issues of diversity, gender, culture, and LGBTQ families.

We have many resources available for therapists and counselors providing support to families wishing to improve communication and repair damaged relationships.

Why not download our free positive relationships pack and try out the powerful tools contained within? Some examples include:

• Identifying Our Expert Companions This exercise helps clients discover what they need from an expert companion and how to identify them among the variety of people they know.
• Connecting With Others by Self-Disclosure In this exercise, clients learn how to practice self-disclosure to increase their feelings of being understood, accepted, and cared for, boosting relationships and wellbeing.

Other free resources include:

• Mind the Gap Use this exercise to identify the values the client wants to instill in the family and make plans for their implementation.
• Meeting Our Family’s Needs Each family member is given the opportunity to have their needs heard, understood, and ultimately accepted in this helpful activity .

More extensive versions of the following tools are available with a subscription to the Positive Psychology Toolkit© , but they are described briefly below:

• Building Social Capital

An individual’s social capital is an accumulation of their positive network connections.

Clients can expand their social capital by focusing on their relationship quantity, strength, intensity, and density.

To do so, ask the client to try out the following steps:

• Step one – List the most important people in your social network.
• Step two – Assess existing connections’ strength, density, and intensity.
• Step three – Identify elements of your social capital that require attention.
• Examining Rituals of Connection

Rituals of connection are relationship-enhancing behaviors essential in family therapy and family counseling that symbolize intimacy and provide couples with a sense of stability, commitment, and purpose.

Nurturing a shared sense of meaning and maintaining commitment through rituals of connection is integral to a happy, satisfying, stable, and enduring romantic relationship.

Try out the following steps:

• Step one – Identify and reflect on your connection rituals with your partner.
• Step two – Assess whether the rituals are currently working for you both.
• Step three – Identify what you can do to improve or replace those rituals that require attention.

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Empower others with the skills to cultivate fulfilling, rewarding relationships and enhance their social wellbeing with these 17 Positive Relationships Exercises [PDF].

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Family therapy and family counseling recognize that families are organized systems and aim to improve relationships and resolve conflicts by working with all family members.

It disrupts existing unhealthy relationship patterns and communication styles and promotes positive change and growth within the family unit.

In doing so, family therapy emphasizes the importance of understanding family members’ beliefs and the sometimes-unhealthy sequences of behavior that can develop along with the contextual shifts and life challenges that contribute to family problems.

Communication theory plays a significant role in family counseling by analyzing how communication patterns within the family structure impact their problems. Therapists use the approach to identify and transform conflict-causing connection patterns and encourage conflict resolution.

There are various types of family therapy and counseling, each offering different perspectives and models for understanding clients. They offer diverse views that guide therapists in providing tailored interventions for families in need.

Ultimately, family therapy is a practical approach to improving relationships and reducing discord within the family system. Through its use, therapists can disrupt existing dynamics and promote positive change by considering all family members’ needs, beliefs, and values.

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Relationships Exercises for free .

Ed: Updated July 2023

The basic principles of family therapy involve:

• Working collaboratively with families to understand their relationships and interactions
• Identifying and building on strengths
• Developing more effective communication and problem-solving skills

There are many different techniques used in family therapy and counseling, such as:

• Genograms (visual representation of a family’s relationships and history)
• Mindfulness techniques
• Play therapy
• Homework assignments

One of the most commonly used types of family therapy is structural family therapy (SFT).

SFT focuses on the interactions between family members and how these interactions shape the family’s structure.

• American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Family counseling. In APA dictionary of psychology . Retrieved July 19, 2023, from https://dictionary.apa.org/family-counseling.
• Blumer, M. L. C., Hertlein, K. M., & VandenBosch, M. L. (2015). Towards the development of educational core competencies for couple and family therapy technology practices. Contemporary Family Therapy , 37 (2), 113–121.
• Fitzpatrick, M. A., & Ritchie, L. D. (1993). Communication theory and the family. In P. Boss, W. J. Doherty, R. LaRossa, W. R. Schumm, & S. K. Steinmetz (Eds.), Sourcebook of family theories and methods (pp. 565–589). Springer.
• Goldenberg, I. (2017). Family therapy: An overview . Cengage learning.
• Konkolÿ Thege, B., Petroll, C., Rivas, C., & Scholtens, S. (2021). The effectiveness of family constellation therapy in improving mental health: A systematic review. Family Process , 60 (2), 409–423.
• McLean, S. A., Booth, A. T., Schnabel, A., Wright, B. J., Painter, F. L., & McIntosh, J. E. (2021). Exploring the efficacy of telehealth for family therapy through systematic, meta-analytic, and qualitative evidence. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review , 24 (2), 244–266.
• Metcalf, L. (2011). Marriage and family therapy: A practice-oriented approach . Springer.
• Rogers, M., & Cooper, J. (2020). Systems theory and an ecological approach. In M. Rogers, D. Whitaker, D. Edmondson, & D. Peach (Eds.), Developing skills and knowledge for social work practice (2nd ed., pp. 259–268). Sage.
• Sweezy, M., & Ziskind, E. L. (2013). Internal family systems therapy: New dimensions . Routledge.
• Wampler, K. S., Miller, R. B., & Seedall, R. B. (Eds.). (2020). The handbook of systemic family therapy (vol. 1). Wiley Blackwell.

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What our readers think.

very excellent description orderly arranged information was easy to understand the context

This is an excellent, and in-depth article that explains the multiple uses and strategies that a family therapist near you uses to help your family overcome obstacles and become closer to one another. With family therapy in Calgary, you and your loved ones will be feeling more in tune with each other than ever before, and you will likely learn something about yourself as well.

Hi, We are concerned for an adult 37 year old daughter and the therapy she is receiving from a particular Psychologist. We are located in NJ. Since she has been seeing this Psychologist for nearly 2 years, our daughter’s relationships with our family – parents and siblings have been going from bad to worse and now almost non existent. She has been angry about the past family issues and cannot seem to shed the past. She is a schoolteacher, a parent to a 9 and 12 year old daughters, and remarried last October. We are not a perfect family, however we are good people. Everyone has had their issues at one time or another but our daughter’s siblings have moved past the issues from when they were younger. Any advice you could give us would be a good start to improve our family. Thank you,

Hi Roseann, I’m sorry to hear that you are feeling disconnected from your daughter. What’s important (and constructive) is that she is working through her experiences of her childhood with a psychologist. When undergoing long-term therapy, people may find that they need space or emotional distance, at least temporarily, from those they feel are associated with their negative feelings so they can process them and decide how to move forward with those relationships. Here are some important questions to ask: Does your daughter have social support/people she can lean on elsewhere in her life (e.g., friends, her partner)? Does she have stability in her work and personal life? Does she seem healthy and happy? I cannot know your personal situation, but my suggestion would be to gently reach out, let her know that you’re there for her if/when she wants to reconnect, or chat about anything from the past, and then allow some space. We all process our past experiences differently, and for some, this may take a little more time than for others. I hope this helps, and best of luck. – Nicole | Community Manager

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