Our Approach
Unify Families coaches the family system to make changes that lead to enduring improvements in the parent-teen relationship as well as important changes in the teen's emotional, social, and/or academic life. Guided by mental health professionals with years of experience working with teens, parents and families, our services are grounded in clinical expertise and affirming coaching relationships
Grounded in Research
Our service is grounded in the psychological research of attachment styles and is guided by the leading application of that science into practice: Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). We also incorporate Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory into our coaching, guiding teens and parents in understanding responses of their autonomic nervous system and how to achieve greater emotional regulation.
Our coaches understand that disruptive anxiety is a common denominator in the teens and parents we work with. We know that anxiety management consists of skills that can be learned, and that these skills can be life-changing for teens and parents. To this end, our coaches address anxiety management and give teens and parents tools to help them achieve greater regulation.
​As a significant part of our work is guiding teens and parents towards greater relationship functioning, we reinforce the use of communication and conflict resolution skills designed to slow down communication, encourage sharing of feelings, and using "I" statements. We also help parents learn ways to encourage teens to do their own problem solving, instead of parents doing the problem solving for them.