THERAPY

Family Therapy

Support for families feeling stuck, in conflict, or navigating change — with a focus on the patterns, roles, and dynamics between people, not just what happens inside them.

Family with two young children laughing together on a sofa, family therapy

1,000+

Families Served Since 2016

4

Bay Area Offices & Telehealth

4.6 ★

Rating on Zocdoc

$54k+

Reimbursements Recovered

OVERVIEW

When the family system feels stuck.

People often seek family therapy because their family system feels stuck, painful, or out of balance. Maybe you're seeing unresolved conflict or strained communication. Perhaps you've noticed a significant change in your child or teen's behavior. Family dynamics can shift quickly — through divorce, death, addiction, or relocation — or slowly, through repeated behaviors that no longer serve a useful purpose. In almost every case, the underlying reason to seek therapy is that people care about their family and want things to feel better. That's a beautiful starting point.

WHAT WE FOCUS ON

Improving communication, resolving conflicts.

In individual therapy, the focus is on one person's inner world — their thoughts, feelings, history, and patterns. In family therapy, the therapist focuses on the patterns, roles, and dynamics among family members rather than the individuals themselves.

System, not symptom

A child acting out is often better understood as an expression of stress in the family system rather than an issue with the individual. We treat the dynamics — power imbalances, enmeshments, and roles — in a safe, unconditionally accepting space.

Structured & direct

Family therapy tends to be more structured and direct than individual therapy — the therapist actively manages multiple relationships and interactions in the room at once.

Care that respects each voice

Every family member has a role. We help each person understand theirs, re-establish healthy boundaries, and rebuild trust — without any single voice getting lost.

OUR APPROACH

Common family therapy interventions.

Every family is different, and we tailor our approach to your specific dynamics. Depending on what your family is navigating, we may draw on any combination of the following:

Communication skills training

Learning how to express thoughts and emotions clearly, and how to respond from empathy rather than defensiveness or reactivity.

Conflict resolution strategies

Practical tools for working through disagreements, reducing tension, and recovering effectively when conflict happens.

Emotional regulation skills

Teaching parents and children to understand their emotions and manage them constructively.

Structural family interventions

Understanding each family member's role, re-establishing healthy hierarchy, and setting appropriate boundaries to reduce confusion and conflict.

Attachment-based interventions

Promoting attunement, responsiveness, and trust between family members.

Behavioral interventions

Building consistent routines, stable expectations, and effective positive reinforcement strategies.

Psychoeducation

Sharing peer-reviewed research to normalize experiences and provide insight into effective therapeutic interventions.

Parent coaching & support

Working with caregivers on discipline, difficult behaviors, de-escalation, and boundary-setting.

Interested in ongoing peer support for parents? Our weekly Parenting Group covers social media, screen time, mental health warning signs, and more.

"Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible."

— Virginia Satir

the unfold difference

Care that meets your child where they are.

Direct access

Your therapist is just a call or text away — even between sessions.

Rapid response

We prioritize your health and well-being. Expect a return call within three hours.

Flexible care

Meet us where you're most comfortable — in-home, in-office, or via telehealth across California.

Clinical expertise

Highly specialized guidance combined with empathetic, whole-person support.

How & Where We Work

Therapy on your terms

To make prioritizing your health as seamless as possible, we offer therapy tailored to your lifestyle.

In-Office

Four convenient Bay Area locations: San Francisco, Oakland, Corte Madera, and San Jose.

In-Home

Exceptional care delivered directly to you.

Telehealth

Private online appointments available to residents anywhere in California.

YOUR THERAPISTS

Meet the clinicians who see families.

Our family therapists are trained in evidence-based systemic approaches. Read their bios to find the right fit for your family.

Dr. Richard Heafey, Psy.D., licensed clinical psychologist at Unfold Psychology

Dr. Richard Heafey

Psy.D. · MFT · M.A. · License #30807

Licensed clinical psychologist with training in clinical, counseling, and forensic psychology, working across therapy, assessment, and court-related matters to help individuals and families navigate life's challenges through connection and heart.

Dustyn Salomon, AMFT and APCC, couples therapist at Unfold Psychology

Dustyn Salomon

AMFT · APCC · License #140707 & 14341

Focuses on communication and relational patterns within couples and partner dynamics, helping clients understand their unconscious roles in closeness and misunderstandings.

In their own words.

In their own words.

Dr. Heafey has had an incredible positive impact on me. He was able to very quickly identify underlying causes for issues that my previous therapists had all missed, and we either focused on them in our sessions or he gave me referrals where appropriate. I've grown so much and function so much better thanks to all the effort he puts in. He cares deeply about his patients and will always go the extra mile for them.

- JM

Google review · ✫✫✫✫✫

Dr. Heafey and his team at Unfold Psychology is amazing. I have been working with Dr Heafey for 3 years now and it's completely changed the way I see myself and attitude towards life. The Executive functioning, run by Talia Prince was life changing. I was horrible at following through, staying motivated and life management. I noticed great change just after 6 months of the EF program. Talia is incredible and works harder for you than anyone has before. Highly recommend Unfold and the EF program for anyone struggling with life management.

- PG

Google review · ✫✫✫✫✫

Best therapist I've known. Helped me through my couple years of college and dealing with PTSD, relationships and anxiety. I am so grateful to know him and to have had him there for my care. He feels so safe and creates such a safe space for you to explore and express your emotions.

- G

Google review · ✫✫✫✫✫

HOW TO GET STARTED

Three steps to begin.

Book a free consultation

For a 10–15 minute fit assessment.

Map your path

By discussing your specific circumstances and goals.

Begin Unfolding

Your customized plan with our care team's full support.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does therapy cost?

Session fees range from $225–$550 depending on the service. We are an out-of-network practice, which means we don’t bill insurance companies directly. Instead, we provide superbills to make that process easy, and most of our clients receive partial reimbursement through their insurance.

Do all family members need to attend every session?

Not always. Family therapy sometimes includes subgroups (like parents alone, or siblings alone) or individual sessions to work on specific patterns. We’ll design a plan that fits your family’s needs and revisit it as therapy progresses.

How is family therapy different from individual therapy?

Individual therapy focuses on one person’s inner world. Family therapy focuses on the patterns, roles, and dynamics between family members. When one person’s symptoms are really an expression of stress in the system, working on the dynamics is often more effective than treating the individual alone.

Who should be involved in family therapy?

It depends on what your family is navigating. Sometimes it’s parents and children; sometimes it’s siblings, extended family, or a combination. We’ll work with you to decide who needs to be in the room for each phase of therapy.

Do you accept insurance?

We are out-of-network with all insurance plans. Many of our clients use out-of-network benefits to get reimbursed for a significant portion of our fees. In 2025, our insurance specialist helped clients recover over $54,000 in insurance reimbursements — and that doesn’t include superbill submissions. We provide detailed superbills and can help you understand your benefits before you start.

MORE WAYS WE CAN HELP

Related services

Couples Therapy

Focused work for partners navigating conflict, communication, or life transitions together.

Child Therapy

Play, art, and talk therapy tailored to help children process change and build resilience.

Teen Therapy

Developmentally attuned support for adolescents navigating identity, anxiety, school, and belonging.

LOCATIONS

Four Bay Area offices

Plus telehealth throughout California.

San Jose

1120 McKendrie St.

San Jose, CA 95126

Corte Madera

100 Tamal Vista Blvd., Ste. 107

Corte Madera, CA 94925

Oakland

1955 Mountain Blvd., Ste. 101

Oakland, CA 94611

San Francisco

2860 Laguna St., Ste. 101

San Francisco, CA 94123

We are proud to provide inclusive care for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Ready to take the next step?

Book a free 15-minute consultation. We'll listen, answer your questions, and help you figure out the right path forward.

Or Text Us at (650) 993-9321

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