If your family is going through a tough time -- whether it's from stress, anger, or grief -- family counseling can make a difference. It can help couples, children, or members of an extended family learn to communicate better and work through conflicts.

How Can Family Counseling Help?

Problems in your family can affect all areas of family members' lives. You and your loved ones might notice trouble cropping up at work, at school, or in everyday interactions with other people.

When it feels like the issues in your family are too big for you to handle -- and aren't getting better -- it may be time to see a family therapist. They can help you find new ways to manage struggles, conflicts, and challenges.

Some of the things that family therapists can help with are:

• Conflicts between family members

• Substance abuse or addiction

• A family member's mental illness

• Financial problems or disagreements about money

• Problems in school

• Difficulties between siblings

• Children's behavior problems

• Caring for a family member with special needs

• Issues with extended family members

• A family member's illness or a death in the family

• Infidelity

• Separation or divorce

• How to plan for shared custody of children