Family Systems Therapy

Family Systems Theory is the idea that each member of the family, interacting together as a system, can influence each other towards the continuity of the family as a whole.

Your family is a system that is composed of members who share some common goals, interrelated functions, boundaries, and an identity. While we will address your child’s individual needs while they are at Sunrise, we will also include you and your whole family to determine how your child operates within that “system”. We will delve into the “Roles, Rules, and Relationships” within the family system, help you hold firm boundaries, and build an appropriate structure for your unique home. Family, especially parent involvement, is key to healing and the successful completion of our program. We encourage our parents to be involved in every step. Visits can begin within 4-6 weeks and will be planned with your therapist.

Family visiting teen boy attending Sunrise RTC to help with difficult mental health challenges.

Individual and Family Therapy

Individual therapy is held for one hour each week. These sessions are focused on the student’s understanding and exploring the behaviors the student wants to change. A variety of techniques are used by the DBT therapist to help them stay motivated and apply new skills to help students manage their personal life challenges.

Individual therapy is also utilized to help students understand their personal values and how to live by them, build their emotional language, shift negative core beliefs and thinking patterns, and address trauma.

Family therapy is held for one hour each week. The success of our students is largely dependent upon family participation and engagement in the treatment plan. These sessions are focused on the student and family members building their skills around communication, emotional exposure and vulnerability, and healing from past trauma. Parents are encouraged to attend a weekly DBT skills group to help them learn DBT skills along with their child, and attend in-person quarterly family events.

Parent Support

Sunrise provides parent support through weekly DBT Skills groups, Parent Support Groups, and Parent Education Workshops. Parents are encouraged to attend as much as possible, to help them learn DBT skills along with their child.

Quarterly Family Events are a 2-day, in-person intensive for all Sunrise families eligible to attend. These events typically involve a day of Rec Therapy, an in-person Family Therapy session, and a day of various group therapy sessions.