Tx Services for Families

ROBERT M. NEWELL, PH.D. FORENSIC AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Specializing in Behavioral Healthcare for Children & Adolescents, Families, Couples, and Adults.

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TREATMENT SERVICES FOR FAMILIES One of my specialty areas is family psychology. I have extensive training and experience providing treatment to families who are struggling with a variety of issues such as: · Child and adolescent behavior problems · Divorce-related issues · Family conflict · Parent-child problems · Substance abuse · Trauma and abuse issues. ► CLICK HERE to find out about my Divorce-Related Treatment Services. Family therapy differs from traditional individual psychotherapy in that it takes a holistic focus by identifying patterns of behavior and interaction between individuals that may be causing or maintaining psychological symptoms. In family therapy, the unit of treatment is not the individual—it is the interpersonal relationships within the marital/couple system in which an individual lives. Extensive research over the past several decades has shown that family therapy is as effective, and in some cases more effective, than standard and/or individual treatments for treating a wide array of mental and psychological disorders such as: anxiety disorders, mood disorders, alcoholism and drug abuse, behavior disorders in children and adolescents, eating disorders, and, of course, marital distress and family conflict. My approach to working with families is based on the Functional Family Therapy (FFT) model developed by Dr. Jim Alexander, whom I studied under at the University of Utah for eight years. Functional Family Therapy is an empirically-based family therapy model designed to treat children and adolescents who display conduct and behavior problems. A major goal of FFT is to improve family communication and supportiveness while decreasing the intense negativity that often occurs in families who are experiencing difficulties. Other goals of family therapy include helping family members to adopt positive solutions to problems, and to develop positive changes in behavior and in parenting strategies. Functional Family Therapy is an evidenced-based treatment model that has undergone rigorous scientific evaluation over the past 30 years. Outcome studies show that FFT is an extremely effective treatment approach, and that it produces a significant reduction in behavior problems in children and adolescents when compared to alternative treatments and to no treatment conditions. Reductions in problem behaviors range from 50-75% for mild cases, and a 35% reduction with very severe cases. These outcomes also have been associated with dramatically reduced treatment costs. The FFT model includes four phases of treatment: 1. Introduction/ Impression Phase; 2. Motivation (Therapy) Phase; 3. Behavior Change Phase; 4. Generalization (more multisystem focused) Phase. Each phase includes assessment, specific techniques of intervention, and therapist goals and qualities. The intervention involves a strong cognitive/attributional component which is integrated into systemic skill-training in family communication, parenting skills, and conflict management skills. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Office of Juvenile Justice of Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) have recognized Functional Family Therapy as an effective treatment intervention for working with children and adolescents who have behavioral problems. ► CLICK HERE to learn more about Functional Family Therapy. ► CONTACT ME if you have any questions about family therapy, or if you want to schedule an appointment.
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DR. ROBERT M. NEWELL Telephone: 509-910-0329 Email: mail@drrobertnewell.com Website: www.drrobertnewell.com Copyright © 2004-2007 Robert M. Newell, Ph.D. All rights reserved.