Family Therapy in Pasadena & Los Angeles

Family therapy is a series of sessions where family members meet together with a therapist to understand what keeps getting stuck between them and practice new ways of talking, listening, and responding. Instead of treating one person as “the problem,” your therapist looks at how everyone affects each other, so change can reach the whole family. Many families come after trying everything they know and still seeing the same arguments.

No. Everyone does not have to attend for family therapy to help, and we are glad to work with whoever is willing to come. Parents, children, teens, siblings, grandparents, in-laws, and adult children can join, and some sessions include only part of the family. Your therapist will talk with you about who to include and when.

Families come for help with communication that keeps breaking down, frequent arguments and angry reactions, stress, loss and grief, big life changes, a family member’s mood or behavior struggles, and the effects of trauma or conflict. Many also come simply to feel closer and more understood. If you are not sure whether your situation fits, a free consultation is a good place to ask.

Individual therapy is one-on-one work for you, couples therapy in Pasadena & Los Angeles focuses on a partnership, and parenting support gives parents guidance and tools. Family therapy brings several family members into the room to work on how you relate to one another. Many families combine them, and your therapist can help you decide where to start.

Your therapist helps each person say what they are feeling and needing, slows down heated moments, and helps family members listen to one another. You may talk about a recent argument, patterns that keep repeating, or what each person hopes will change, and you practice new ways to respond between sessions. The goal is that everyone feels heard and safer with one another.

Our therapists use thoughtful talk therapy along with Restoration Therapy and Brainspotting. Restoration Therapy helps family members notice the pain-driven patterns that show up under stress, such as blaming, withdrawing, or shutting down, and practice steadier responses together. Every therapist on our team is trained in Brainspotting, and you can read more on Our Approach.

The number of sessions depends on your goals, how many people are involved, and what comes up. Many families meet regularly over several weeks or months, and your therapist will recommend a plan after getting to know your family. You can check in about how it is going and adjust the plan at any time.

Yes. Many families we see are holding two worlds: parents shaped by immigration, sacrifice, and traditional expectations, and kids growing up with a different language, culture, and sense of independence. These gaps can show up as misunderstandings, anger, or silence on both sides. Family therapy helps parents and children understand where each other is coming from, honor what matters, and find ways to connect without anyone having to give up who they are. You can read more about mental health in Asian families and learn about our team on Who We Are.

Some of our therapists offer sessions in Korean or Mandarin. Let us know your family’s language needs when you reach out, and we will talk about what setup works, including when some family members are more comfortable in one language and others in another. You can learn about each therapist on Our Therapists.

That is very common, especially in families where struggles are kept private or seen as a weakness. You do not need everyone’s agreement to start. Many families begin with the people who are willing, and others often join once they see that therapy is respectful and is not about blame. Your therapist will go at your family’s pace and honor your values while helping you talk about what is hard.

Yes. Divorce, separation, remarriage, and blended families bring loyalty conflicts, new roles, and a lot of change. Family therapy gives everyone a steady place to talk about those changes, set clear expectations, and build new family routines. Parents can also get their own guidance through parenting support in Pasadena & Los Angeles, and kids and teens can have their own space through child and teen therapy.

Yes. Adult children often carry heavy responsibility for aging parents, along with guilt, resentment, and differences between siblings about who does what. Family therapy helps families talk openly about caregiving, boundaries, and expectations, and make decisions together. You can read more about adult children of aging Asian parents on our blog.

Yes. When family members have stopped speaking or the relationship feels strained and distant, therapy can help you understand what happened, say what you need, and decide what kind of relationship, if any, is possible. We work with whoever is willing to come, and we do not promise any particular outcome, such as reconciliation. Your therapist will help you move at a pace that feels safe.

Yes. When a child comes out or is exploring gender identity or sexual orientation, family members can have many feelings at once, including fear, confusion, grief, and love. Family therapy gives everyone a respectful place to talk, helps parents understand and support their child, and keeps your child’s wellbeing at the center. Your therapist will not push anyone toward a particular outcome.

Your therapist will explain at the start how confidentiality works when several people are in the room, including what stays private and what is shared with the family. In general, what is shared in therapy is protected by professional ethics and privacy laws such as HIPAA, with limited exceptions required by California law, such as a serious risk of harm to someone, suspected abuse of a child, an older adult, or a dependent adult, or a court order.

Oak and Stone Therapy does not provide emergency or crisis services. If someone in your family is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If someone needs emotional support right now, you can call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, at any time. If you are worried about someone’s safety, please tell us when you reach out so we can talk about the right level of care.

Our team includes licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFTs) and associate marriage and family therapists (AMFTs). Associates are employed by Oak and Stone Therapy and supervised by a licensed marriage and family therapist. Families located in Washington work with our Washington-licensed therapist, Hanna Byeon, LMFT (CA #126398, WA #LF61325898). You can read each therapist’s background, license number, and specialties on Our Therapists.

Our Pasadena office offers family therapy for families in Pasadena, South Pasadena, San Marino, La Cañada Flintridge, Altadena, and Sierra Madre. Your therapist helps your family communicate more clearly, work through conflict, and feel closer, at a pace that works for everyone. You can learn more about our Pasadena office.

Yes. Our Highland Park office offers family therapy for families in Highland Park, Eagle Rock, Mount Washington, Glendale, and La Crescenta. Families can bring concerns about young children, teens, or adult family members, and your therapist works with whoever is ready to join. You can learn more about our Highland Park office.

Yes. Our Los Angeles office in Koreatown offers family therapy for families in Koreatown, Hancock Park, Windsor Square, Larchmont Village, Mid-Wilshire, Mid-City, Silver Lake, and Downtown Los Angeles. Sessions focus on helping every family member feel heard and finding practical ways to change the patterns that keep repeating. You can learn more about our Los Angeles office in Koreatown.

Yes. Families located in California can meet with our therapists online through a HIPAA-compliant platform, including families in San Francisco, the Peninsula, the East Bay, and Silicon Valley cities such as Sunnyvale, Fremont, Cupertino, Saratoga, and Milpitas. Because our therapists are licensed in California, everyone who joins an online session needs to be located in California during the session, so ask us about options if a family member lives in another state or country. You can read more about online therapy across California and therapy in San Francisco and the Bay Area.

Yes. Families located in Washington can meet online with our Washington-licensed therapist, Hanna Byeon, LMFT (CA #126398, WA #LF61325898), including families in Seattle, Lynnwood, Bothell, Edmonds, Mukilteo, and Shoreline. Only therapists licensed in Washington can see clients located in Washington, and everyone who joins a session needs to be located in Washington during that session. You can learn more about online therapy in Washington and our Seattle therapy office.

Request a free consultation through our contact page. Tell us who is in your family, what you are noticing, and who is open to coming, and we will help match you with a therapist. You can find session fees on our Fees page.