Families

Specialized family therapy from Stanford’s DBT Couples and Family Program for high-conflict families and parent-child relationships.

Family Therapy at Summit

Healing Family Systems Together

Family relationships can be both the source of greatest support and greatest stress. When communication breaks down, conflict becomes chronic, or family members struggle to understand each other, family therapy can help. At Summit Psychotherapy Center, we specialize in treating high-conflict families and complex family dynamics using evidence-based approaches. Dr. Jasmine Dobbs-Marsh, who directs Stanford University’s DBT Couples and Family Program, leads our family therapy services. We understand that families are systems, each person’s behavior affects everyone else. We work to understand what drives family challenges, interrupt destructive patterns, build emotion regulation skills across the family, improve communication, and strengthen relationships. Whether you’re navigating parent-teen conflict, blended family challenges, or the impact of trauma on your family, we’re here to help.

Common Family Concerns.

Challenges We Address

We provide specialized treatment for families experiencing:

Parent-Teen/Adolescent Conflict

Parent-Teen/Adolescent Conflict – Arguments, defiance, communication breakdowns.

High-Conflict Family Systems

Chronic fighting, emotional intensity, escalation.

Emotion Dysregulation

One or more family members struggling with intense emotions.

Blended Family Dynamics

Step-parenting challenges, integrating families

Trauma's Impact on Family

How past trauma affects family relationships and communication.

Parenting Challenges

Difficulty setting limits, inconsistent parenting, power struggles

Sibling Conflict

Rivalry, aggression, difficulty getting along

Life Transitions

Divorce, remarriage, moving, new baby, illness

Mental Health in the Family

When one family member has BPD, PTSD, depression, or anxiety

Multigenerational Issues

Grandparent involvement, extended family tensions

Cultural and Identity Conflicts

Navigating different values, identities, or cultural expectations

Our Specialized Approaches.

Evidence-Based Family Therapy :

DBT for Families (DBT-F)

Skills-based approach from Stanford’s DBT Couples and Family Program teaching emotion regulation, distress tolerance, validation, and communication skills to the entire family system.

Structural Family Therapy

Understanding and changing family interaction patterns, hierarchies, boundaries, and subsystems that maintain problems.

Trauma-Informed Family Therapy

Addressing how trauma (individual or family-wide) affects family dynamics, attachment, and functioning.

Parent Coaching and Support

Individual sessions with parents to build skills, understand child development, and create effective parenting strategies.
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Why Families
Choose Summit?

Specialized Expertise in Family Systems

Families choose Summit because we offer:

Director of Stanford's DBT Family Program

Dr. Dobbs-Marsh leads Stanford’s DBT Couples and Family Program.

High-Conflict Specialization

Expertise with families where emotions run high.

Systems-Based Approach -

Understanding family patterns rather than blaming individuals.

Evidence-Based Methods

Proven approaches like DBT-F and Structural Family Therapy.

Trauma-Informed Care

Addressing how past experiences affect current family dynamics.

Skills-Based Learning

Practical tools everyone can use.

Non-Blaming Philosophy

Focus on understanding and changing patterns.

Developmentally Appropriate

Approaches tailored to children’s and teens’ developmental stages

What to Expect in Family Therapy?

Your Family Healing Journey :

Initial Consultation (Free 15 Minutes)

We offer a complimentary phone consultation to discuss your family concerns and determine if our specialized approach is right for you.

Family Assessment

The first sessions focus on understanding each family member’s perspective, family patterns, what drives conflict, and what goals you have for therapy. Everyone’s voice matters.

Building Skills and Understanding

Family members learn skills for managing emotions, communicating effectively, validating each other, and solving problems collaboratively. We help everyone understand their role in family patterns.

Strengthening Family Bonds

As destructive patterns decrease, we focus on rebuilding connection, trust, empathy, and collaboration. The goal is a family system where everyone feels heard and valued.
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For All Types of Families

Inclusive, Systems-Based Care

We provide affirming therapy for all family configurations including nuclear families, single-parent families, blended/step-families, families with LGBTQIA+ members, multigenerational households, adoptive and foster families, and families of all cultural backgrounds. Our approach honors your unique family structure, cultural values, and circumstances. We understand that families face different challenges based on their composition, culture, and context.

Ready to Heal Your Family System?

You don’t have to stay stuck in family conflict. Our specialized team, led by the director of Stanford’s DBT Couples and Family Program, can help your family understand patterns and rebuild connection.

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