What’s the Difference Between Family Therapy and Parent Training?

Oct 15

Parent-focused therapy discussion in Kirkland

You know something needs to shift in your home. Your child is struggling—or maybe the whole family feels like it’s running on a short fuse.
You’ve searched. You’ve read. You’ve found options.

And now you’re wondering: Do we need family therapy or parent training?

At Sunburst Psychology, we work with families in Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, and Mercer Island every day to answer that exact question.

TLDR:
Family therapy focuses on the relationship dynamics between family members.
Parent training focuses on helping adults respond more effectively to their child’s behavior and needs.

Both are incredibly useful. They just serve different functions.

Let’s Break It Down

Family Therapy Is About the Whole System

We bring the family (or parts of it) into the room to work on patterns of communication, emotional disconnection, conflict cycles, or longstanding dynamics.

Used when:

There’s tension or distance in the parent-child relationship
Siblings are locked in conflict
The household feels reactive, shut down, or disconnected
Emotions are running high and no one knows what to do with them

Looks like:

Joint sessions with a therapist guiding conversations
Repair work after ruptures
Building emotional safety, empathy, and trust
Rewriting relational patterns that no longer serve anyone

Parent Training Is About Strategy and Support

This is for parents who want insight into their child’s needs—and practical tools to support change at home. It’s especially helpful when a child is neurodivergent, emotionally sensitive, or behaviorally reactive.

Used when:

Your child’s behavior feels confusing, exhausting, or disruptive
You want to understand what’s driving meltdowns, shutdowns, or resistance
You need structure, language, and regulation strategies that work
Your child may not be in therapy yet—but you want to start somewhere

Looks like:

Parent-only sessions with targeted tools and feedback
Coaching on communication, boundaries, and emotional attunement
Support for handling school, transitions, or sibling dynamics
Learning how to co-regulate without losing your mind

Sometimes You Need Both

Plenty of families start with one and add the other later.
Sometimes we begin with parent training and shift into family therapy when deeper relational patterns surface.
Other times we start with family sessions and realize parents need a separate space to untangle their own overwhelm.

The point is: we tailor the path. There’s no wrong door.

What We Offer at Sunburst Psychology

In Bellevue, Redmond, Kirkland, and Mercer Island, we provide:

Family therapy for emotional reconnection and relational repair
Parent training & consultation for ADHD, anxiety, autism, behavioral challenges, and more
Integrated care with therapists who understand the complexity of high-functioning households
Online and in-person sessions to fit your family’s real life