Functional Family Therapy
Compassionate support for families navigating challenging behaviors
When your teenager is acting out, facing trouble at school, or becoming involved with the juvenile justice system, it impacts the entire household. You might feel overwhelmed, frustrated, or fearful about their future. At Western Tidewater Community Services Board (WTCSB), we know that helping a struggling teen means supporting the whole family. Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is designed to help families break negative cycles, rebuild trust, and function in more adaptable, productive ways.
What Functional Family Therapy is
FFT is a short-term, evidence-based family treatment program that typically involves 12 to 14 sessions over a three to five-month period. Instead of just focusing on the youth’s behavior in isolation, FFT works with the entire family to reduce risk factors and increase protective factors.
To make care as accessible and effective as possible, these sessions can take place in our community clinics, directly in your home, or even in schools, child welfare facilities, probation and parole offices, aftercare systems, and mental health facilities.
Who Functional Family Therapy serves
FFT is proven to work primarily with youth (ages 11 to 18) who have been referred for behavioral or emotional problems by the juvenile justice, mental health, school, or child welfare systems.
This program is specifically designed for youth who are at risk of an out-of-home placement or potential involvement with the juvenile justice system. To qualify (Medical Necessity Criteria), the youth must demonstrate at least one of the following:
- Increased and persistent behaviors, such as physical and verbal aggression, truancy, stealing, property destruction, and/or lying.
- Repeated occurrences of impulsive behaviors that endanger themselves or others (e.g., risk-taking, running away from a caregiver, affiliating with dangerous peer groups, substance use, or being difficult to control).
- Increased and persistent symptoms associated with depression or anxiety.
- Ongoing substance use or dependency.
The youth is currently on probation or returning home from out-of-care (such as juvenile detention, treatment foster care, emergency shelter, inpatient acute hospitalization, or residential treatment) and needs FFT as a step-down service.
You’re not alone. Recovery support is here.
If you are trying to rebuild stability after your teen’s behavioral or emotional challenges, your family does not have to do it by yourselves. FFT can be a practical next step toward stronger routines, healthier coping, and more connection. WTCSB is here to help you find the right level of support and move forward one step at a time.
(If your child or someone else is in the midst of a mental health or substance abuse crisis, you can always talk to someone right away by dialing 988).
How to Access Functional Family Therapy?
Getting your family the help they need is a straightforward process through our Same Day Access program.
Same Day Access (SDA): You can walk into any of our community counseling centers during designated intake hours to receive an immediate clinical assessment and be directed to FFT services.
Call Us: To get started or ask questions about Functional Family Therapy, call our main WTCSB line at (757) 758-5106.
Provider Referrals: Juvenile justice officers, schools, and child welfare workers looking to refer a youth can contact our intake team directly through the main phone line or our website.
What to Expect with Functional Family Therapy
FFT is a structured, goal-oriented program consisting of distinct phases to help your family succeed. Each phase has its own focus, goals, and intervention strategies:
Engagement & Motivation Phase: Your therapist will match and join with your family to help reduce blame and negativity, decrease conflict, and increase hope.
Relational Assessment Phase: The therapist will gather and analyze information about your family’s relational functions, hierarchy, and patterns to plan for concrete behavior change.
Behavior Change Phase: We will execute the behavior change plan together to build new skills, improve family interactions, and eliminate the core issues that led to the referral.
Generalization Phase: Finally, we will build upon the skills taught during behavior change, linking your family to formal and informal community systems so you can successfully navigate future challenges independently.
How to Pay for My Visit
WTCSB accepts public insurance, private insurance, and self-pay. If you have insurance, we will use your coverage when eligible and let you know if any copays or costs apply. WTCSB’s published payment options include Virginia Medicaid (including CCC Plus plans), Medicare, and many commercial insurance plans.
If you do not have insurance, or if you are underinsured, WTCSB also offers income-based financial assistance through an Ability to Pay (ATP) system (often called a sliding scale). Fees are based on what you can afford, and some services may have different fee rules than others.
WTCSB’s published self-pay methods include cash, check, and major credit cards
Questions about cost? Call (757) 758-5106 and ask about payment options for the service you need and whether you qualify for Ability to Pay.
Payment Options: https://www.wtcsb.org/payment-options/
Income-Based Fees (Ability to Pay): https://www.wtcsb.org/income-based-fees/
Where can I find Functional Family Therappy?
Functional Family Therapy is a highly flexible, community-based service. While coordinated through our main WTCSB community clinics, FFT sessions are frequently conducted directly in your home.
To best serve your family, services can also be provided in schools, child welfare facilities, probation and parole offices, and aftercare systems
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