Family Therapy
When your family feels stuck, the right therapist changes everything.
Something shifted. Maybe it happened slowly, over months of missed conversations and mounting tension. Maybe it was sudden: a diagnosis, a move, a crisis that pulled everyone in different directions. Either way, your family is not connecting the way it used to, and you are not sure how to get back on track.
Family therapy at Juniper Blu Collective is built for moments like this. Our licensed therapists work with families across Maryland, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania through secure virtual sessions, helping you rebuild communication, work through conflict, and support each other through whatever you are facing. Every session is designed so that each person in the room is heard, not just the loudest voice.
How Do I Get Started?
Contact Us
Reach out through our website or call (202) 244-0818. We will answer your questions about family therapy, talk through what your family is experiencing, and help you schedule your first appointment.
Confirm Your Appointment
We will send you a secure link to complete intake paperwork before your first session. Each participating family member will have a chance to share their perspective so your therapist can come prepared.
Begin Treatment
During your first session, we’ll learn who you are and you’ll also learn about us! We’ll talk about your life, your passions, strengths, and the challenges you’re facing.
Balance Begins Here
What Brings Families to Juniper Blu Collective
Every family that reaches out to us has a different story. But there are patterns we see often.
The kid who used to tell you everything barely makes eye contact now. You are not sure if this is normal adolescence or something more. Every attempt to talk turns into a fight or a door closing. You want to help, but nothing you try is working.
When one person in a family is navigating an eating disorder, depression, anxiety, OCD, or trauma, the ripple effects touch everyone. Siblings feel overlooked. Parents feel helpless or blamed. Family therapy helps the whole unit understand what is happening and figure out how to support each other without burning out.
Transitions between households, different rules in different homes, kids caught in the middle. Co-parenting after a divorce or separation brings stress that most families are not prepared for. Therapy gives everyone a structured place to work through it.
Bringing two families together sounds simple on paper. In reality, it involves competing loyalties, different parenting styles, and kids who did not choose this. Family therapy helps blended families build trust and communication from the ground up.
A cross-country move. A serious illness. A new baby. The loss of a grandparent. Financial stress. Families absorb these shocks differently, and sometimes the coping strategies that used to work stop working. Therapy helps you adapt together instead of apart.
Sometimes individual therapy reaches a point where progress depends on the family system. If your child’s therapist, your own therapist, or another provider has suggested family therapy, we can coordinate care and build on the work that is already underway.
How Virtual Family Therapy Works at Juniper Blu Collective
Juniper Blu Collective is a telehealth-native practice. Virtual family therapy is not a workaround for us. It is how we were built to work.
Sessions happen through a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. For families, online therapy has some real advantages. Everyone can join from the same room or from separate spaces, which is especially helpful when tensions are high or when family members live in different locations. There is no coordinating a drive across Bethesda or sitting in DC traffic with a frustrated teenager in the backseat.
Our therapists use evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), attachment-oriented work, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and art therapy, depending on what fits your family. The approach is always tailored. A family with a nine-year-old navigating anxiety looks very different in session than a family with a young adult in eating disorder recovery, and our therapists adjust accordingly.
Juniper Blu Collective also works collaboratively with other providers. If your family is connected to a dietitian, psychiatrist, or primary care physician, we coordinate when it supports your care.
Why Family Therapy?
Family therapy helps identify and address unhealthy patterns or dynamics within the family system. These patterns may include conflict, over-involvement, or enmeshment to name a few. By understanding how family members interact and influence each other, families can make positive changes and create a more harmonious and balanced family environment.
Wishing for stronger bonds? Family therapy can help improve parent-child relationships by providing parents with effective parenting strategies and tools. It also creates a space for open communication between parents and children. By strengthening the parent-child bond, families can create a more understanding and nurturing home environment.
Adolescence is a time of significant change and growth — often accompanied by challenges such as academic pressure, peer relationships, and identity development. Family therapy works to provide support and guidance to families navigating these challenges. By involving the entire family, therapy can help create an ideal environment for adolescents that promotes healthy development.
A strong and supportive family environment contributes to the mental health of all family members. For each family member, family therapy can address underlying emotional issues, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being. By creating room for open communication and emotional expression, we can help families develop a healthier mental environment for everyone.
Family therapy is designed to deepen emotional connections between all family members. By working toward the goals of open communication, empathy, and understanding, families can create a stronger sense of belonging and support. This can also lead to increased trust, respect, and shared experiences, ultimately strengthening the family bond.
Family therapy can be a proactive approach to addressing potential issues before they escalate. By strengthening family bonds, improving communication, and developing problem-solving skills, families can prevent future conflicts and create a stronger foundation for long-term well-being.
Our Family Therapists
Juniper Blu Collective’s team includes therapists with specific training and experience in family dynamics, parenting challenges, and multi-person sessions. Here are a few of the therapists who work with families
Eva M. Camacho
Licensed Graduate Professional Counselor
Over two decades of experience working with youth and families in the Washington, DC area. Former professor and researcher in Developmental Psychology and Emotional Intelligence, with a multi-modal therapeutic approach.
View full bio →
Michelle R. Scudero
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Supports families navigating chronic illness, oncology, grief, perinatal concerns, and autism-related challenges. Trained in eating disorders across the lifespan, including in children and individuals with special needs.
View full bio →
Malca R. Gottlieb
Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker
14 years of experience as a psychotherapist specializing in family relationships, entrenched family dynamics, anxiety, and depression. Certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (C-DBT) with a relationship-centered approach.
View full bio →
Kate S. Bell
Student & Trainee
Training under Jamie L. Jones through the University of Pennsylvania's School and Mental Health Counseling program. Draws from Internal Family Systems (IFS), CBT, guided imagery, and breathwork to support families navigating depression and everyday life pressures.
View full bio →Who Family Therapy at Juniper Blu Collective Is For
Our therapists work with families in all configurations and at every stage. That includes parents and young children working on communication and emotional regulation, families with adolescents navigating school stress, identity questions, or behavioral changes, and adult children reconnecting with parents after years of distance.
We also work with families where a member is navigating a specific mental health challenge, including eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, depression, OCD, autism, chronic illness, and mood or personality disorders. Family therapy can be a powerful complement to individual psychotherapy or couples therapy when the family system plays a role in healing.
Juniper Blu Collective provides affirming, inclusive care and serves families across Maryland, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania through online sessions.
Family
Therapy
FAQs
Family therapy can benefit families of all shapes and sizes. This includes families with children of all ages, blended families, and families experiencing a variety of challenges. Whether you’re facing communication difficulties, parenting challenges, or major life transitions, family therapy can provide expert support and guidance.
All immediate family members need to be present and willing to participate. However, there may be situations where it is not possible for everyone to attend. If a family member is unwilling or unable to attend, your therapist will work with you to determine the best approach and may adjust the format as needed.
Insurance coverage for family therapy varies depending on your specific plan. It’s essential to contact your insurance provider to determine your coverage and any necessary pre-authorization requirements. Some plans may cover a portion of the cost, while others may not provide coverage at all.
Sessions are structured so every family member has a chance to share their perspective. Your therapist will help the family identify patterns, practice new communication strategies, and work toward shared goals. Sessions are collaborative, not confrontational. There is no blame and no picking sides.
Our therapists work with families that include young children, adolescents, teens, and adult children. The approach is always adjusted for developmental stage. A session with a seven-year-old looks very different from a session with a 22-year-old, and our therapists are trained to work across that range.
Yes. Sessions happen through a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. Family members can join from the same room or from separate devices in different locations. This is especially helpful for co-parenting situations, families with members in different states, or sessions where some space between participants is beneficial.
Individual therapy focuses on one person’s experience, thoughts, and goals. Family therapy focuses on the relationships and communication patterns between family members. Many people benefit from both. If a family member is already in individual psychotherapy at Juniper Blu or elsewhere, family therapy can complement that work.
It depends on what your family is working through. Some families see meaningful progress in 8 to 12 sessions. Others benefit from longer-term support, especially when navigating ongoing mental health challenges or major life transitions. Your therapist will check in regularly about goals and progress.
Yes. Juniper Blu Collective was founded with a focus on eating disorder support, and many of our therapists have specialized training in how conditions like eating disorders, trauma, anxiety, depression, OCD, and autism affect the family system. Family therapy helps everyone understand the condition and learn how to offer support without enabling or burning out.
Insurance and Payment for Family Therapy
Juniper Blu Collective accepts CareFirst insurance. For families with other insurance plans, we offer a concierge service to help you utilize your out-of-network benefits. We typically work with PPO, HMO, POS, and federal plans. We do not accept Medicaid or Medicare. Not sure about your coverage? Contact our team, and we will help you figure it out before your first session.
The Juniper Blu Blog
Looking to be informed, inspired, or uplifted? Check out our latest blog posts for in-depth insights from industry experts discussing all the things you want to know about mental wellness including our expertise in eating disorders, trauma, autism, and support with chronic illness.
What Is ARFID & How Is It Different from Picky Eating?
7 Strengths of Neurodivergent Parents
Your Family Does Not Have to Stay Stuck
You already know something needs to change. That is why you are here. Juniper Blu Collective’s family therapists are accepting new families across Maryland, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania. Reach out today and take the first step.