1 Understand the Concern
The therapist learns what brought your family in, how each person experiences the situation, and what you hope may be different.
(616) 610-9276
890 Washington Ave, Suite 150, Holland, MI 49423890 Washington Ave, Holland
Family & Relationship Support
Family Counseling in Holland, MI
Family counseling can give people a supported place to talk about conflict, communication, parenting, grief, and change—without requiring your family to have every answer before reaching out.
When Home Feels Stuck
Families can get caught in familiar patterns during stressful seasons. Counseling may help family members slow down, share different perspectives, and consider manageable changes for everyday life.
Common reasons families seek support:
- Recurring conflict or tension at home
- Communication difficulties or misunderstandings
- Parenting disagreements
- Divorce, separation, or blended-family adjustments
- Grief, relocation, or another family transition
- A child's growing independence
- Rebuilding trust within family relationships
- Questions about who should participate in sessions
Family counseling is not about deciding who is at fault. A consultation can help you describe what is happening and consider whether family, couples, or individual counseling is the most useful starting point.
A Practical Process
Making Room for Every Perspective
The details depend on your family, goals, and clinician. Sessions may include structured conversation, noticing interaction patterns, discussing a transition, and identifying manageable next steps when those activities are appropriate for the people involved.
2 Notice the Pattern
Conversation can help identify moments when communication, conflict, or family stress starts to escalate without reducing the problem to one person.
3 Practice Next Steps
Depending on the goals, sessions may include practicing a conversation, planning for a transition, or choosing one manageable change to try at home.
Family Counselors at Compass
These current Compass clinicians explicitly list family therapy or therapy for families within their documented specialties. Review their profiles, then contact Compass to discuss fit and appointment options.
Samantha Neddo, LMSW, SSW
Works with families and explicitly lists family therapy among her specialties, with compassion-focused and strengths-based support.
Emily Dalton, LLMSW
Provides therapy for families within her specialty areas, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Family Guide
What to Expect in Family Counseling
Family counseling can look different from one appointment to the next. The therapist can help clarify who participates, what the goals are, and how progress will be revisited.
1
Who Participates
Every family member may not need to attend every appointment. Participation depends on your family's concerns, goals, scheduling, and what the therapist considers appropriate.
2
Shared Goals
Goals may include clearer communication, rebuilding trust, responding to a transition, or reducing recurring conflict. Goals and involvement can change over time.
3
Respectful Conversation
A therapist can make room for different perspectives and help family members discuss difficult topics without treating one person as the sole cause of the problem.
4
Practical Next Steps
Sessions may include practicing a conversation and identifying a manageable change for everyday family life. Progress can look different for each family.
A Note on Immediate Safety
Compass provides routine outpatient care. If someone in your household may be in immediate danger, contact local emergency services or a qualified crisis resource rather than waiting for a routine appointment.
Choosing a Starting Point
Which Type of Support Fits?
You do not need to choose the exact service before reaching out. This comparison can help your family prepare for the consultation.
| Starting point | May fit when | What to discuss |
|---|---|---|
| Family counseling | Relationships, communication, conflict, or a transition affect more than one person in the household. | Who should participate and what shared goals matter most |
| Marriage counseling | The concern is centered primarily on a couple's partnership. | Whether both partners should attend and whether family support is also needed |
| Child or teen therapy | A young person's individual emotions, behavior, school life, or relationships are the main concern. | Developmental needs, parent involvement, and whether family sessions may help |
| Individual counseling | One person wants private support for personal concerns or goals. | Whether individual care, family care, or both may be appropriate |
Insurance & Fees
Insurance participation, session fees, and payment options vary by clinician and your health plan's benefits. The consultation is a useful time to ask what to verify before scheduling.
View insurance and financing information →Before You Schedule
Ask about current clinician fit, in-person or virtual options, insurance participation, payment questions, and who may participate in the first appointment.
Request a ConsultationLearn More
Family Counseling FAQs
What concerns can family counseling help with?
Family counseling may support recurring conflict, communication difficulties, parenting disagreements, grief, blended-family changes, relocation, or other transitions. Sessions focus on relationships and shared goals rather than blaming one family member.
Does everyone need to attend every session?
Not necessarily. Participation depends on your family's concerns, goals, and what the therapist considers appropriate. Joint sessions may not suit every family or situation, and the therapist can discuss who may be included at different points in care.
What is the difference between a family therapist and a family counselor?
The words therapist and counselor are used differently across practices and jurisdictions. Licensure, training, scope of practice, and the clinician's experience matter more than the title alone. Compass can help you review a potential clinician's documented background and discuss fit during a consultation.
Does insurance cover family counseling, and what does it cost?
Insurance participation, session fees, and payment options vary by clinician and health plan. Contact Compass before scheduling to ask about current options, then verify benefits, limitations, and any deductible or out-of-network responsibility directly with your insurer. Compass can discuss payment questions during the consultation.
What does the '2-year rule' mean for family counseling?
People sometimes use that phrase to refer to different licensing, supervision, insurance, or referral requirements. It is not a universal rule for family counseling. Requirements can vary by credential, state, insurer, and situation, so ask Compass and the relevant licensing or insurance office what applies to your specific question.
How do I request a family counseling consultation?
Call (616) 610-9276 or complete the consultation form. Compass can discuss your family's needs, in-person or virtual options, potential clinician fit, insurance participation, and possible next steps.
Related Support
Compass also supports couples, children, teens, and individuals when a more focused service may be appropriate.
Get Started Today
A Place to Start Together
Call (616) 610-9276 or complete the appointment request form for a free 15-minute consultation. We can discuss family goals, clinician fit, participation, payment questions, and whether in-person care in Holland or virtual counseling may be appropriate.