As couples and families work to manage busy lives impacted by a wide range of stressors it is not uncommon to find themselves struggling and eventually in a therapist’s office looking for help and a better sense of connection with one another. Although often helpful, there are times when these therapy sessions seem to open few doors and sadly result in an increased sense of discouragement and isolation. The failure of these interventions frequently has little to do with the competency of the therapist or even the degree of family “dysfunction”, but more often seems to be linked to the enormous number of distractions (i.e. work, school, friends, extended family, after school activities…..) which take away from the time and focus necessary to care for and enjoy one another. As our lives become hugely busy and we find ourselves drifting away from one another triggers of underlying insecurity, egocentricity and less than graceful defensive behavior become common.
Over time the pattern of interaction within most highly stressed families is shadowed by a consistent undercurrent of disappointment and conflict. It is not that family members no longer love one another, but rather that they have lost the ability to see each other accurately or to enjoy one another. As these dynamics play-out over time so does the potential for the seeking of solace within extramarital affairs, substance abuse and depressive detachment from one’s own feelings . For both adults and children the reaction to a sense of isolation and disconnection is rarely positive or adaptive.
The unique and intensive treatment model offered through Family Therapy Vacations is specifically designed to pull family members away from distractions and to support them in both the work and joy of what it is to be connected. The combination of intensive clinical work with the opportunity to share a wonderful adventure vacation is for many couples and families the right tact to a new beginning.
This program is operated out of a beautiful ocean view villa in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua and provides clients a highly individualized experience tailored to the specific couple’s or family’s needs. Dr. Stewart, the program’s clinical director is a licensed psychologist with 30 years of experience, whom together with his wife Janet, a psychiatric nurse, bring mature and gender balanced insights and skills to the program’s clinical work. The Integrative Therapy model within which they work has a heavy emphasis on acceptance and forgiveness as a precursor to real change within relationships.
In discussing this unique program with Dr. Stewart and his wife it is impossible to avoid their enthusiasm and deep belief in this program. When asked about the effectiveness of the program for past clients Dr. Stewart indicates that the majority of the people coming into the program are at a very serious point within their relationships, with many of them looking at this resource as their last resort. However despite this high level of acuity he indicates that they have been extremely successful in supporting couples and families in achieving a sense of “starting over”.
For further information on their relatively wide range Family Therapy Vacation programs please visit their website at : www. Familytherapyvacations.com
Over time the pattern of interaction within most highly stressed families is shadowed by a consistent undercurrent of disappointment and conflict. It is not that family members no longer love one another, but rather that they have lost the ability to see each other accurately or to enjoy one another. As these dynamics play-out over time so does the potential for the seeking of solace within extramarital affairs, substance abuse and depressive detachment from one’s own feelings . For both adults and children the reaction to a sense of isolation and disconnection is rarely positive or adaptive.
The unique and intensive treatment model offered through Family Therapy Vacations is specifically designed to pull family members away from distractions and to support them in both the work and joy of what it is to be connected. The combination of intensive clinical work with the opportunity to share a wonderful adventure vacation is for many couples and families the right tact to a new beginning.
This program is operated out of a beautiful ocean view villa in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua and provides clients a highly individualized experience tailored to the specific couple’s or family’s needs. Dr. Stewart, the program’s clinical director is a licensed psychologist with 30 years of experience, whom together with his wife Janet, a psychiatric nurse, bring mature and gender balanced insights and skills to the program’s clinical work. The Integrative Therapy model within which they work has a heavy emphasis on acceptance and forgiveness as a precursor to real change within relationships.
In discussing this unique program with Dr. Stewart and his wife it is impossible to avoid their enthusiasm and deep belief in this program. When asked about the effectiveness of the program for past clients Dr. Stewart indicates that the majority of the people coming into the program are at a very serious point within their relationships, with many of them looking at this resource as their last resort. However despite this high level of acuity he indicates that they have been extremely successful in supporting couples and families in achieving a sense of “starting over”.
For further information on their relatively wide range Family Therapy Vacation programs please visit their website at : www. Familytherapyvacations.com