Understanding the Different Types of Family Therapy
Discover the types of family therapy that support deeper connection, healthier boundaries,
and healing across generations through meaningful conversations.
Have you ever wondered how many types of family therapy there are? With all those various methods to select from, it can be overwhelming to determine which may be best for you. In this article, we’re going to break down the most commonly utilized forms of family therapy you’re going to come across. If you’re seeking therapy for the first time or simply wondering what’s available, this guide will give you a quick rundown. Let’s get into it and see how each type functions and what differentiates them.
Types of Family Therapy
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to family therapy, which is why several approaches have been developed to meet different needs. Below, we’ll explore some of the most well-known and widely-practiced types and examples, each offering its own unique perspective and techniques.
Gestalt Family Therapy
In Gestalt therapy, the emphasis is on the present moment and awareness. This model invites family members to tune into how their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are experienced right now. A unique element here is the creative use of role-play and movement to uncover how unfinished emotional experiences shape family roles today.
Systematic Family Therapy
This model explores each member’s role within the context of larger social and cultural systems. What’s rarely highlighted is how this therapy brings in the family’s collective worldview—spiritual, political, economic—and helps the group reframe meaning and responsibility. It's deeply attuned to how external pressures impact internal relationships.
Narrative Family Therapy
Narrative therapy helps families step outside their problems by “externalizing” them—treating the issue as separate from the person. It uniquely honors each family member’s story, helping the family see their collective narrative as one they can co-author, not just inherit. This model is particularly helpful when families feel stuck in roles like “the anxious one” or “the fixer.”
Structural Family Therapy
This approach views the family as a system made up of interdependent roles and boundaries. What makes structural therapy unique is its focus on realigning these roles to create a healthier structure. Therapists observe patterns—who speaks for whom, who remains silent—and help families gently shift into more supportive, balanced roles, especially in cases where hierarchy and roles feel blurred.
Bowenian Family Therapy
Built around the idea that anxiety ripples across generations, Bowenian therapy brings in the concept of “differentiation”—learning to be emotionally present without being emotionally overwhelmed. What’s not often discussed is how deeply this model emphasizes the ability to self-regulate in the presence of emotionally charged family systems, often without needing everyone physically present in the room.
Strategic Family Therapy
Highly solution-focused, this therapy feels a bit like a carefully guided dance. Strategic therapists often assign tasks that subtly shift power dynamics and break unhelpful patterns. One less-known aspect is how it uses paradox—giving directives that may seem contradictory—to trigger change in the system. The focus is on action over introspection.
Functional Family Therapy
Often used with adolescents and families in crisis, FFT is grounded in behavior change—but what’s less known is how deeply it integrates emotional understanding into skill-building. It explores what each behavior is trying to achieve (connection, autonomy, safety) and helps the family learn healthier ways to meet those needs without judgment.
Examples of Each Type
To fully grasp what each therapy is about, an example for each needs to be presented.
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A therapist notices a child is often left to parent their younger sibling. Through structural work, the parents are supported in reclaiming their leadership role.
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An adult working with a therapist learns to manage their emotional reactivity toward their parents—without bringing the parents into therapy.
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A teen avoids chores. The therapist assigns the parents to “stop reminding” for one week, which paradoxically leads the teen to take more responsibility.
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During a session, a mother role-plays as her son and realizes how her tone might come across as critical, leading to a meaningful conversation between them.
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A family explores how immigration stress and cultural expectations shape their communication patterns and decide together what to keep or revise.
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A family with a child diagnosed with ADHD begins to view “the ADHD” as something they all relate to, not just the child, shifting from blame to support.
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A therapist works with a family whose teen struggles with substance use, helping the family build a new pattern of open dialogue and consistent boundaries.
What Are Family Therapy Models?
Family therapy models are structured frameworks that guide therapists in understanding and addressing the dynamics within a family system. These models shape how a therapist interprets communication patterns, assigns meaning to conflict, and decides which interventions to use. Rather than focusing on one person’s issues, models like structural, systemic, or narrative look at the interaction between family members—and how change in one part of the system affects the whole. Each model offers a lens for understanding complexity, resilience, and relational healing.
What sets each model apart is the distinct lens it uses to understand family challenges. For example, structural therapy focuses on realigning family roles and boundaries, while Bowenian therapy explores generational patterns and emotional distance. Narrative therapy, on the other hand, encourages family members to re-author the stories they tell about themselves and each other, shifting the focus from problems to strengths. These diverse perspectives allow therapists to tailor their approach, depending on the family’s values, cultural background, and specific concerns—making therapy not only more effective, but also more personal and empowering.
Which Type of Family Therapy Fits Your Family’s Needs?
Not every approach works the same for every family. Choosing between structural, narrative, or functional therapy can feel overwhelming. Families navigating behavioral challenges may benefit most from functional family therapy, while those experiencing emotional cutoff might lean into Bowenian work. If you’re unsure, that’s okay—what matters most is starting the conversation. The best therapy is the one your family shows up for.
Explore Our Family Therapy Services
If you’d like to learn more about how we support families in navigating challenges with care and expertise, please visit our family therapy page.
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If you have questions or are looking for support, we’re here to listen. Reach out to us to connect with someone who understands what your family is going through.
