Tracey Reichert Schimpff
Sometimes we need extra support to manage the more difficult challenges in life, including challenges in our family relationships. A trained couple and family therapist can make an enormous difference in keeping these important connections healthy and strong for life.
Syracuse University employees have access to licensed, credentialed counselors through Carebridge. Myriad counseling opportunities for students can be found through the Barnes Center at The Arch. But perhaps you have a loved one in need of therapy services who has limited options available. The Couple and Family Therapy Center might be a good place to start.
Located just off campus in Peck Hall, the Couple and Family Therapy Center offers individual, couple, family and group therapy to the larger Central New York community and serves clients of all ages, identities and demographics. Services are free for all clients, which allows the center to serve those who may not otherwise be able to afford therapy.
The center is operated by the Falk College’s Department of Marriage and Family Therapy. At the center, marriage and family therapy students receive extensive clinical training while practicing under the close supervision of faculty and staff who are licensed marriage and family therapists and either American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) approved supervisors or approved supervisor candidates.
We spoke with Director of Clinical Services Tracey Reichert Schimpff, M.A., Ph.D., LMFT, to answer some of our questions about the benefits of couple and family therapy, and how to help your loved one get the help they need.
Couple and family therapy is different from individual therapy in that all members are invited to attend sessions together. Every member of the family or both partners in a couple participate and contribute their perspectives. Couple and family therapists focus on relationships and other systems in which clients are located, rather than view problems as lying solely within individuals.
Some of the most common challenges that couple and family therapy can help resolve include communication problems, family or couple conflict, dealing with emotional distress or healing from loss. Family therapists may use different techniques, such as art or play materials, to connect with clients and help them better understand themselves and each other.
Therapy is a safe place to explore thoughts, feelings and life experiences. A couple and family therapist will listen carefully and work to understand your point of view, while remaining conscious of your connections with others. Although it can be difficult to understand or agree with others in your family, a couple and family therapist is trained to hold on to multiple perspectives and find ways to maintain balance.
It may help to seek professional assistance if you experience dissatisfaction in your relationships, have unresolved conflict or experience emotional difficulties that interfere with life. Things such as loss and hurt are part of the human experience, but discussing feelings and uncovering ways to feel better in a supportive environment can lower distress sooner. Couple and family therapists are uniquely qualified to identify issues in the family and then work to strengthen those relationships.
Many people think that going to therapy means there is something really wrong with them, or they believe there is a stigma associated with seeking help. Couple and family therapy provides an opportunity to enhance connections, improve satisfaction and work together toward common goals. Inviting family or partners to join you in therapy and work on the relationship may actually feel less threatening.
Asking whether someone has thought about getting help is a way to express care and offer support. Relationships can be challenging and they take work! Normalizing the fact that seeing a therapist is a way to maintain health and invest in couple or family relationships may also offer encouragement.
Sometimes, first sessions involve a therapist asking for information regarding family background and presenting concerns. Therapists may also inquire about strengths and seek opinions from each person in the couple or family regarding their ideas for change. Therapists hope to create a welcoming environment where each member is seen and respected as part of the process.
The Couple and Family Therapy Center is located at 601 E. Genesee St. in downtown Syracuse. Day and evening appointments are available Monday through Thursday. For more information, call 315.443.3023 or email falkmft@syr.edu.
