Intensive Family Therapy at GAFC: Expediting results through the TRUST System

Treatment Teams and Specialists are
Recommended by the family therapist who
Understands the family’s
Specific
Therapy Needs

Email us to schedule a consultation

Note: Due to the high demand of this model, combined with the level of attention required by therapists, wait lists are common. Most clients will begin services within a month of signing up.

At GAFC, we recognize that traditional, one-hour-per-week therapy sessions often fall short in meeting the complex and urgent needs of families in crisis. That’s why we’ve developed Intensive Family Therapy (IFT) through our TRUST Program—a dynamic, team-based approach designed to expedite stabilization and strengthen families through deep, coordinated, and responsive care.

Intensive Family Therapy is a high-engagement, customized treatment model led by a licensed Family Therapist who functions as the Treatment Team Leader, guiding the therapeutic process with precision and insight.

Through this process, the family therapist will begin to develop a comprehensive and deep understanding of the needs of the family, and will assign specialized clinicians matched to the family’s unique challenges as identified during the initial assessment and ongoing care.

The TRUST model addresses the reality that healing family systems often requires more than a single session per week. This program offers multiple hours of therapy weekly, which may include:

Family sessions - including extended therapy sessions (1-4 hour sessions), which focus on communication, conflict resolution, parenting, and systemic healing.
- There is also a possibility that combinations of a family dynamic may require therapy in addition to presenting as a family unit, for example, a step-parent and a child who are in high conflict, or if parents are having couples issues.
Individual sessions for children, parents, or caregivers to work through personal trauma, behavioral therapy, or mental health concerns.
The Family Therapist collaborates closely with other mental health professionals within our agency to build a treatment plan rooted in the family’s goals. Team members may include:
- Child or adolescent therapists
- Adult or couples counselors
- Addiction specialists
- Behavioral specialists
- Trauma-informed clinicians
- Parenting coaches

Depending on identified needs, families may receive additional evidence-based interventions, such as:

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) to improve parent-child relationships and manage behavior
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for behavior modification and skill-building, particularly in children who demonstrate significant behavioral issues
Couples Counseling to strengthen parental relationships
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to address trauma and PTSD
Professional Mediators to assist clients in negotiating compromises, break out of gridlock, and/or assist clients in developing a system of terms or rules

The IFT format allows:

Faster identification and resolution of issues
Greater continuity of care through integrated teamwork

How It Works:

1. Initial Family Engagement

Your journey begins with a licensed family therapist, who will function as the treatment team leader. The family therapist will meet with your family both as a unit and, when appropriate, in individual sessions. These early meetings allow the therapist to build rapport, assess dynamics, and gain a comprehensive understanding of each family member's perspective.

2. Assessment and Goal Setting

Through ongoing sessions, the family therapist identifies core issues affecting the family system. Together, you’ll clarify goals and begin to set the foundation for healing and improved communication.

3. Bringing in the Team

Once the therapist has a clear picture of the challenges, they will begin to involve other specialized team members—such as behavioral therapists or substance use counselors, —to address specific needs. This team-based approach ensures that every angle of the family’s situation is covered.

4. Collaborative Intervention

The full team works together, guided by the lead therapist, to implement customized strategies tailored to your family’s goals. Sessions may include combinations of family, individual, and multi-member formats to maintain flexibility and momentum.

5. Ongoing Support and Review

Throughout the IFT process, the team lead will continuously monitor progress and adjust the plan as needed. Families are encouraged to reflect on their growth, celebrate wins, and stay engaged through challenges.

6. Transition and Aftercare Planning

As your family builds new patterns and healthier ways of relating, the team will help you prepare for life beyond intensive therapy. This may include step-down services, referrals, or periodic check-ins to support continued success.

Who Is This For?

This program is ideal for families experiencing:

Acute conflict or instability at home
Complex trauma histories
Recurrent behavioral challenges in children or teens
Co-occurring mental health conditions across family members
Disruption in family roles due to separation, reunification, or major life changes

Who is NOT a good candidate for these services?

Families in Immediate Crisis or Danger
- If there is ongoing domestic violence, active abuse, or a serious safety concern (e.g., threats of harm), immediate intervention through crisis services, shelters, or protective agencies is more appropriate before entering IFT.
Individuals Requiring Inpatient or Detox Services
- Those struggling with acute mental health episodes (e.g., active psychosis or suicidal ideation) or substance use that requires medical detox or inpatient treatment may need stabilization in a higher level of care before engaging in family-based work.
Families who are not prepared to make this course of treatment a priority in their lives
Families that contain members who are not willing to commit to following a treatment plan
Families who have schedules and activities to the point where multiple sessions a week are not possible

Intensive Family Therapy at GAFC: Expediting results through the TRUST System

Treatment Teams and Specialists are

Recommended by the family therapist who

Understands the family’s

Specific

Therapy Needs

Email us to schedule a consultation

Note: Due to the high demand of this model, combined with the level of attention required by therapists, wait lists are common. Most clients will begin services within a month of signing up.

Intensive Family Therapy is a high-engagement, customized treatment model led by a licensed Family Therapist who functions as the Treatment Team Leader, guiding the therapeutic process with precision and insight.

Through this process, the family therapist will begin to develop a comprehensive and deep understanding of the needs of the family, and will assign specialized clinicians matched to the family’s unique challenges as identified during the initial assessment and ongoing care.

The TRUST model addresses the reality that healing family systems often requires more than a single session per week. This program offers multiple hours of therapy weekly, which may include:

Family sessions - including extended therapy sessions (1-4 hour sessions), which focus on communication, conflict resolution, parenting, and systemic healing.

There is also a possibility that combinations of a family dynamic may require therapy in addition to presenting as a family unit, for example, a step-parent and a child who are in high conflict, or if parents are having couples issues.

Individual sessions for children, parents, or caregivers to work through personal trauma, behavioral therapy, or mental health concerns.

The Family Therapist collaborates closely with other mental health professionals within our agency to build a treatment plan rooted in the family’s goals. Team members may include:

Child or adolescent therapists

Adult or couples counselors

Addiction specialists

Behavioral specialists

Trauma-informed clinicians

Parenting coaches

Depending on identified needs, families may receive additional evidence-based interventions, such as:

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for emotional regulation and interpersonal effectiveness

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) to improve parent-child relationships and manage behavior

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for behavior modification and skill-building, particularly in children who demonstrate significant behavioral issues

Couples Counseling to strengthen parental relationships

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to address trauma and PTSD

Professional Mediators to assist clients in negotiating compromises, break out of gridlock, and/or assist clients in developing a system of terms or rules

The IFT format allows:

Faster identification and resolution of issues

Greater continuity of care through integrated teamwork

How It Works:

1. Initial Family Engagement

2. Assessment and Goal Setting

Through ongoing sessions, the family therapist identifies core issues affecting the family system. Together, you’ll clarify goals and begin to set the foundation for healing and improved communication.

3. Bringing in the Team

Once the therapist has a clear picture of the challenges, they will begin to involve other specialized team members—such as behavioral therapists or substance use counselors, —to address specific needs. This team-based approach ensures that every angle of the family’s situation is covered.

4. Collaborative Intervention

The full team works together, guided by the lead therapist, to implement customized strategies tailored to your family’s goals. Sessions may include combinations of family, individual, and multi-member formats to maintain flexibility and momentum.

5. Ongoing Support and Review

Throughout the IFT process, the team lead will continuously monitor progress and adjust the plan as needed. Families are encouraged to reflect on their growth, celebrate wins, and stay engaged through challenges.

6. Transition and Aftercare Planning

As your family builds new patterns and healthier ways of relating, the team will help you prepare for life beyond intensive therapy. This may include step-down services, referrals, or periodic check-ins to support continued success.

Who Is This For?

This program is ideal for families experiencing:

Acute conflict or instability at home

Complex trauma histories

Recurrent behavioral challenges in children or teens

Co-occurring mental health conditions across family members

Disruption in family roles due to separation, reunification, or major life changes

Who is NOT a good candidate for these services?

Families in Immediate Crisis or Danger

If there is ongoing domestic violence, active abuse, or a serious safety concern (e.g., threats of harm), immediate intervention through crisis services, shelters, or protective agencies is more appropriate before entering IFT.

Individuals Requiring Inpatient or Detox Services

Those struggling with acute mental health episodes (e.g., active psychosis or suicidal ideation) or substance use that requires medical detox or inpatient treatment may need stabilization in a higher level of care before engaging in family-based work.

Families who are not prepared to make this course of treatment a priority in their lives

Families that contain members who are not willing to commit to following a treatment plan

Families who have schedules and activities to the point where multiple sessions a week are not possible