Functional Family Therapy (FFT) for Children, Teens, and Families in Portland, OR

What Is Functional Family Therapy?

Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is an evidence-based family therapy approach designed to help families improve communication, strengthen relationships, reduce conflict, and address behavioral and emotional challenges. FFT is based on the understanding that children and teens develop within the context of their families, and that lasting change often happens when family members work together toward shared goals.

Rather than focusing on blame, FFT helps families understand patterns of interaction that may unintentionally contribute to conflict or distress. Treatment builds on family strengths while developing new ways of communicating, problem-solving, and supporting one another.

When Can Functional Family Therapy Help?

As a child and adolescent psychologist in Portland, OR, I use family-based interventions informed by Functional Family Therapy principles to help families experiencing:

• Frequent parent-child conflict

• Communication difficulties

• Behavioral challenges

• Defiance and oppositional behavior

• Emotional regulation difficulties

• Anxiety and depression

• Trauma and stressful life events

• ADHD and executive functioning challenges

• School refusal

• Family transitions and life changes

• Sibling conflict

• Adoption or foster care-related stressors

• Identity development concerns

• Challenges related to chronic health conditions

Family therapy can be helpful when a child or teen's struggles are affecting family relationships, or when family stress is contributing to emotional or behavioral difficulties.

What to Expect During Functional Family Therapy

Treatment begins with understanding each family member's perspective, strengths, concerns, and goals. Together, we identify patterns that may be contributing to conflict or making problems harder to solve.

Sessions may focus on:

• Improving communication

• Reducing conflict and power struggles

• Strengthening family relationships

• Increasing empathy and understanding

• Developing effective problem-solving skills

• Supporting emotional regulation

• Building trust and connection

• Establishing healthy boundaries

• Navigating major life transitions

• Creating collaborative plans for addressing challenges

All family members are encouraged to participate in ways that feel productive and supportive.

A Strengths-Based Approach

One of the central ideas of Functional Family Therapy is that every family has strengths that can serve as a foundation for change. Rather than focusing solely on problems, treatment helps families identify what is already working and build upon those strengths.

My approach is collaborative, practical, and nonjudgmental. I recognize that families are often doing the best they can with the tools they have. Therapy provides an opportunity to learn new skills, strengthen relationships, and create patterns that support long-term success.

How Family Therapy Supports Individual Growth

Children and teens do not exist in isolation. When family relationships become more supportive, predictable, and connected, young people are often better able to manage anxiety, depression, behavioral challenges, school difficulties, and other concerns.

Family therapy can be used alongside individual therapy or as a primary treatment approach, depending on your family's goals and needs.