Trauma in the Family: Concrete Skills to Achieve Long-term Healing and Stability

Families caught in destructive cycles that seem impossible to break - and individuals struggling to find meaning in their suffering - often feel trapped between wanting things to be different and not knowing how to create authentic change. Nathan D. Croy has spent over 15 years developing Existential Family Therapy (ExFT), a groundbreaking approach that helps families move beyond surface-level conflict resolution to discover deeper meaning and create genuinely authentic lives together.

As President and Founder of Existential Family Therapy (ExFT, LLC) and Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Croy brings unique expertise that bridges existential philosophy with systemic family therapy. His master's thesis on "Integrating a Christian and Systemic Existential Psychotherapy Theory" reflects his innovative work in creating therapeutic approaches that honor both spiritual and psychological dimensions of human experience. His extensive training in Trauma Systems Therapy, combined with his work across acute psychiatric hospitals, university medical centers, and residential treatment facilities, gives him deep understanding of how trauma and crisis can become catalysts for authentic transformation rather than just problems to solve.

Croy's expertise spans existential family therapy, systemic existential psychotherapy, trauma therapy, anxiety and depression treatment, LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy, Christian counseling, grief work, and what he calls "meaning-making in crisis." His approach recognises that families often get stuck not because they don't know the right techniques, but because they're avoiding the deeper existential questions about who they are and what truly matters to them. He specialises in helping families navigate major life transitions, trauma recovery, adoption issues, end-of-life concerns, and situations where traditional therapy approaches have failed to create lasting change.

What sets his training apart is philosophical depth combined with practical application. Croy doesn't just teach family therapy techniques - he shows practitioners how to help families wrestle with the fundamental questions of existence that drive their conflicts. His philosophy that "living well is about learning the difference between being right and right being" reflects his commitment to moving beyond winning and losing to discovering authentic ways of being together.

For your practice, expect to gain specific techniques for helping families find meaning in crisis, tools for integrating existential exploration with family systems work, and frameworks for addressing the spiritual and philosophical dimensions that often underlie family problems. His approach particularly benefits clinicians working with families in crisis, those interested in meaning-centered therapy, or practitioners wanting to integrate spiritual and psychological perspectives.

Quick Win: Croy's "meaning interruption" technique helps families shift from arguing about surface issues to exploring the deeper values and fears driving their conflicts - helping to transform fights into meaningful conversations about what truly matters to each family member.

Qualifications

• MA, Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling, Bethel Seminary San Diego, 2012
• BA, Psychology, Mount Vernon Nazarene University (Lead psychology T.A. senior year)
• Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist (LCMFT), Kansas
• Licensed Clinical Addiction Counselor (LCAC), Kansas
• Clinical Fellow, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), since January 2015
• Certificate, Trauma Systems Therapy, 2013
• Certificate, Prepare Enrich, 2009

Leadership & Innovation

• President and Founder, Existential Family Therapy (ExFT, LLC), Overland Park, KS, August 2015–present (10+ years)
• Developer of Existential Family Therapy (ExFT) approach
• Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist, Private Practice, current
• 15+ years in clinical practice

Professional Experience

• Therapist, Acute Psychiatric Hospital, Marillac, Overland Park, KS, August 2014–December 2016
• Behavioral Health Therapist, The University of Kansas Hospital, Overland Park, KS, August 2014–December 2016
• Residential Therapist, KVC Health Systems, Kansas City, KS, June 2013–September 2014
• Family Service Coordinator, KVC Health Systems (foster home licensing and support), June 2013–September 2014

Clinical Specialties

• Existential Family Therapy (ExFT) and systemic existential psychotherapy
• Family conflict resolution and meaning-making in crisis
• Trauma therapy including Trauma Systems Therapy
• Anxiety, depression, and mood disorders treatment
• LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy and Christian counseling integration
• Adoption issues and foster care family support
• Grief counseling and end-of-life existential concerns
• Suicide prevention, safety planning, and crisis intervention
• Personality disorders and complex family dynamics

Ready to help families move beyond surface conflicts to discover deeper meaning and authentic ways of being together? Discover how Nathan Croy's Existential Family Therapy methods can transform your ability to guide families through crisis toward genuine transformation and meaningful living.