Marriage and Family Counseling

Zachary Ehrmann
Published: 12/27/2024 | Updated: 04/28/2026
Authored by: Zachary Ehrmann, MSc
Edited by: Emma Loker, BSc, PgDip

The relationships around you shape how you see and experience the world, along with how you recover from the things that have hurt you.[1] At A Mission For Michael, marriage and family counseling is thoughtfully included directly into our mental health treatment process to support healing for all.

Our clinical teams actively involve your loved ones – your partner, your parents, or your children, for example – at every step along the way. Because we recognize that communication patterns and your ability to relate to one another are so important to the healing process.

The structure looks different, depending on your needs and level of care, but the underlying philosophy is always the same: Recovery is stronger when the people who matter most are an active part of it.

Our Approach to Marriage and Family Therapy

AMFM Healthcare utilizes what’s known as Family Systems Therapy, a clinical framework that’s built around the idea that every member of a family unit shapes the health of the whole.[2] If one person is struggling, everyone feels it – and everyone can benefit when things get better.

So, rather than treating marriage and family dynamics as separate from your mental health care, A Mission For Michael’s clinicians integrate relational work directly into your treatment plan. Couples sessions, family therapy, and broader family programming are all a part of how your care is structured from the very beginning.

Family Systems Therapy helps clients work through established relational patterns that might be causing everyone distress. A trained and experienced therapist guides you and your loved ones toward clearer communication and better dynamics within your relationship, between parent and child, or the family as a whole.

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What to Expect From Marriage and Family Therapy At AMFM Healthcare

The setup and delivery of your family and couples counseling depends on which program you’re attending, but you’ll always get the very best in evidence-based care. Here’s how it works across each level of care:

Clinical Assessment

Our team will go through a thorough intake process before you begin, to get a feel for your unique needs. We believe that treating the whole family system is a foundational part of the healing process and in moving forward after treatment is complete. So, relational therapy is incorporated into your treatment plan.

Starting Family and Couples Sessions

Once we determine that sessions are suitable for you, they’ll be scheduled as a regular part of your treatment protocol. In residential care, that usually means you’ll attend weekly sessions with your loved ones. Within these, you’ll explore your individual and collective experiences and learn new coping skills for communication, strife, and processing your emotions. 

Choosing How You Participate

Relationship counseling at AMFM Healthcare can take place onsite or via telehealth, so your partner or family members can stay involved in the treatment process regardless of their distance or schedule. 

Engaging With the Wider Family

Family involvement is key to healing, which is why they’re allowed to attend special weekend programming. We help make families a part of your care through: 

  • In-person visitation, 
  • Shared meals, 
  • Psychoeducation sessions, and 
  • Processing groups provided by the clinical team. 

Support Between Sessions

Partners and family members also have access to dedicated support groups throughout the treatment process. We offer a facilitated virtual marriage and family therapy support group, held bi-weekly on Tuesday nights. This support service gives families a space to process their own experiences of the healing process.

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We accept most major insurance providers and can check your coverage levels for you.

If we are not an appropriate provider for care, we will assist in finding a care provider that can help. 

Program Structure and Weekly Schedule

Marriage counseling and family therapy programs at AMFM Healthcare are built into your weekly clinical schedule to ensure continuity and holistic, total-person care. For example, in residential treatment, your weekly schedule will include: 

  • Individual therapy twice per week
  • Case management sessions once per week
  • Psychiatric provider appointments once per week
  • Family or couples therapy sessions once per week

Sundays are the primary day for family visits. Our usual schedule in California is as follows:

  • On-site and virtual visits typically take place between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
  • Visits are usually pre-scheduled with the clinical team from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM.
  • Virtual alternatives are available mid-week.

In Minnesota, visiting hours run from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, with extended time available for those who’ve traveled more than two hours to the facility. 

Weekend family programming for our residential clients runs along this schedule, offering you the opportunity for visiting and processing the progress your loved one has been undergoing. 

For lower levels of care, such as partial hospitalization programs and intensive outpatient services, your therapist will schedule these sessions as needed to shape your ongoing recovery and clinical needs.

Find Mental Health Treatment Programs

A Mission For Michael (AMFM) provides treatment for adults experiencing various conditions. Mental Health support is a phone call away – call 866-478-4383 to learn about our current treatment options.

California Locations

See our residences in Southern California’s Orange County & San Diego County.

Fallbrook - Peony
Female identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Secluded area with library, large backyard, and pool with beautiful views.
Carlsbad - Goldenbush
Female identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features large rooms, updated interior, & covered seating in backyard.
Carlsbad - Hoover
Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms for our clients with beautiful ocean views, large rooms and relaxng atmosphere.
Dana Point - Blue Lantern
Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features calming large rooms, updated interior, and outdoor pool.
Dana Point - Crystal Lantern
Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Includes large rooms, updated interior, and private treatment rooms.
Fallbrook - North Ridge
Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Featured amenties include tennis court, pool, and game area.
Laguna Hills - Waterwheel
Female identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features large rooms, updated interior, and large backyard.
Laguna Niguel - Campeon
Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features large rooms, updated interior, and covered seating in backyard.
Lake Forest - Grayston
Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features large rooms, relaxing spaces, & covered seating in backyard.
Lake Forest - Sunnybrook
Female identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Newly remodeled interior with large rooms and backyard with garden.
San Juan Capistrano - Banderas
Male identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features updated, modern interior with relaxing outdoor space to unwind.
San Juan Capistrano - Valencia
Female identifying house with double occupancy rooms. Features large rooms, updated interior, & covered seating in backyard.
Mission Viejo - Michelle's House
Residential treatment center just for women who’ve experienced trauma, domestic violence, or overwhelming life challenges
Minnesota Locations

Take a look at our homes on the east side of the Metro area in Washington County.

Stillwater - Arcola
Male residential house with double and single occupancy rooms. Secluded area with large backyard many dedicated spaces for therapy.
Stillwater - Dellwood
Female mental health residential house with double and single occupancy rooms. Beautifully appointed, relaxing atmosphere for healing.
Virginia Locations

View our facilities in Fairfax County, VA within the DC metro area.

Annandale - Rebel Rose
Female identifying house with single and double occupancy rooms. Secluded area with movie theater, on a large property.
Fairfax Station - Derbyshire
Male only house with double occupancy rooms. Secluded area with large rooms, gorgeous interior, and music/game room.
Great Falls - Kellie Jean
Gender inclusive house with double and single occupancy rooms. Secluded area with movie theater, game room, and large property.
Vienna - Browns Mill
Gender inclusive property with double and single occupancy rooms providing compassionate care in a peaceful setting for adults.
Vienna - Corsica
Gender inclusive house with double & single occupancy rooms. Secluded area with large backyard, movie theater, & dedicated therapy spaces.
Vienna - Lawyers
Male identifying house with double and single occupancy rooms. Secluded area with large backyard many dedicated spaces for therapy.
McLean - Lewinsville
Female house with double occupancy rooms. Featuring modern living spaces, comfortable meeting rooms, & well-appointed bedrooms.

Treatment Modalities We Use

Family Systems Therapy (FST) always treats the family as an interconnected system, meaning that shifts in one relationship affect everyone. Our clinicians use this framework to help clients and their loved ones identify unhealthy patterns, rebuild trust, process their experiences, and develop more sustainable ways of relating.[3] 


Family Systems Therapy also offers many benefits for couples who are experiencing conflict, disconnection, or the aftermath of a mental health crisis. In these instances, FST provides a new, structured path to reshaping your understanding and insight into previous patterns and new ways forward. 


Alongside Family Systems Therapy, AMFM Healthcare’s clinical team draws on a range of evidence-based modalities to support family and couples sessions, including: 

  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Internal Family Systems (IFS)
  • Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
  • Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)
  • Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy (CT-R)
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT

Why Choose Us?

Your relationships are vital to your recovery and a life well lived. A Mission For Michael provides emotionally-focused sessions for couples and family members in your treatment for this reason. We hold space for everyone’s experiences and include spouses, partners, and family members in the healing process. 

You’ll have the chance to participate in dedicated sessions weekly, combined with a host of supportive, holistic interventions and integrated visits on the weekends in your programming. 

Couples therapy for trauma recovery, therapy for trust issues in relationships, and counseling for married couples’ mental health all require a place where you can speak freely and get on the same page around your shared goals. Our residential and outpatient-based programs give you and yours the time and skills needed to move forward confidently into a future of mutual understanding and trust. 

If you’re ready to take the next step, call us today or visit our page to verify your insurance benefits. 

References

  1. Lindert, J.; Arndt et al. (2025). Positive and negative family relationships correlate with mental health conditions -a systematic review and meta-analysis https://doi.org/10.3389/phrs.2025.1607381
  2. Varghese, M.; Kirpekar, V.; Loganathan, S. (2021). Family interventions: basic principles and techniques https://doi.org/10.4103/psychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_770_19
  3. Oklahoma City University (2024-06-03). Family systems theory in counseling: key techniques https://online.okcu.edu/clinical-mental-health-counseling/blog/understanding-family-systems-theory-applications-in-counseling

At AMFM, we strive to provide the most up-to-date and accurate medical information based on current best practices, evolving information, and our team’s approach to care. Our aim is that our readers can make informed decisions about their healthcare.

Our reviewers are credentialed medical providers specializing and practicing behavioral healthcare. We follow strict guidelines when fact-checking information and only use credible sources when citing statistics and medical information. Look for the medically reviewed badge on our articles for the most up-to-date and accurate information.

If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate or out of date, please let us know at info@amfmhealthcare.com