Family Therapy in Oregon and Washington
Dr. Justin Bush, PhD provides family therapy for parents, children, and teens across Oregon and Washington. Family therapy helps reduce conflict, strengthen relationships, and build practical communication skills—especially during stressful seasons like adolescence, school challenges, behavioral concerns, and major life transitions.
Who family therapy is for
Families often reach out for support with:
Frequent conflict or “walking on eggshells” at home
Teen behavior concerns (defiance, shutdown, anger, rule-breaking)
Anxiety, ADHD, or emotional dysregulation impacting family life
Parent–child communication breakdown
Sibling conflict
Transitions (divorce/co-parenting changes, blended families, moves, school changes)
Evidence-based approaches used
Family therapy is tailored to your goals and typically integrates:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to identify and change unhelpful thought/behavior cycles that fuel conflict, avoidance, or escalation.
Family Systems Therapy (FST) to understand relationship patterns, roles, boundaries, and interaction loops that keep problems stuck.
Solution-Focused Family Therapy to clarify goals, build on strengths, and create measurable steps that improve day-to-day functioning.
What you’ll work on in sessions
In family therapy, Dr. Bush helps families develop skills that translate into real life:
Healthier communication (listening, validation, expressing needs clearly)
De-escalation and repair after conflict
Stronger boundaries and expectations without power struggles
Problem-solving and teamwork around routines, school, and responsibilities
Rebuilding trust and connection through consistent, values-based actions
How change happens
Family therapy is collaborative and skills-based. We identify the patterns driving conflict, highlight the family’s existing strengths, and practice new ways of responding—so progress shows up at home, not just in session.
Next Steps: Start Family Therapy
Family therapy can help your family communicate more effectively, reduce conflict, and create clearer expectations—without escalating power struggles. If you’re in Oregon or Washington and want support, you can schedule a telehealth appointment using the button below.
What family therapy sessions look like
Family therapy usually begins with a parent intake so Dr. Bush understands the history, the current friction points, and what each person wants to be different. From there, sessions are held with whatever combination of family members fits the goal — the whole family, parents alone, a parent and one child, or a teen individually with the family joining periodically. Sessions run 45 minutes by secure video, and most families are seen weekly at first.
Each session is structured around a specific pattern the family wants to change — the fight that always starts at homework time, the shutdown that follows every limit, the sibling conflict that pulls in both parents. You practice the new pattern in session and take home a concrete plan for the week.
Who benefits most from family therapy
- Parents and teens stuck in the same argument who want to talk without it escalating.
- Families in transition — divorce and co-parenting changes, blended families, moves, new schools.
- Households organized around one child’s anxiety, ADHD, or big emotions, where everyone has changed their behavior to keep the peace.
- Parents who disagree about approach and want a shared, consistent plan.
Family therapy by telehealth across Oregon and Washington
Sessions are held on secure, HIPAA-compliant video, which turns out to be a real advantage for family work: separated or co-parenting households can join from two locations, a college-age sibling can join from campus, and nobody has to coordinate a car ride across town. Dr. Bush is licensed in Oregon (License 2154) and Washington (License PY61540899) and sees families throughout both states.
Frequently asked questions about family therapy
Does the whole family have to come to every session?
No. Who attends is a clinical decision that changes as the work progresses. Many families alternate between whole-family sessions, parent-only sessions, and individual sessions with a child or teen.
What if my teen refuses to participate?
That is common, and it is not a dead end. Work often starts with parents alone — changing how limits, conflict, and repair are handled at home shifts the family pattern even when the teen has not agreed to attend yet.
Is this different from individual therapy for my child?
Yes. Family therapy treats the relationships and the patterns between people; individual child and teen therapy builds skills within one person. Many families do both, and some start with parent consultation instead.
Do you take insurance for family sessions?
Dr. Bush is in-network with Aetna, Lyra Health, Regence BlueCross BlueShield, First Health, and Reliant. Self-pay rates and superbill information are on the rates and insurance page.
Start with a free consultation
If your family is looking for a family therapist in Oregon or Washington, start with a short conversation. Request a free 15-minute consultation or send a message. You can also read the FAQ or learn about Dr. Bush.
