Family Therapy
Sample Solution
Initial Family Therapy Session
Therapist: Hello, everyone. I'm [your name], and I'm a family therapist. I'm so glad you could all come in today.
Family: Hi.
Therapist: I know that it can be difficult to come to therapy, especially when you're going through a tough time. But I'm here to support you and help you work through whatever it is you're facing.
Statement 1: I'm here to support you and help you work through whatever it is you're facing.
My goal is to create a safe and supportive space where you can all feel comfortable talking about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences. I'm here to listen to you without judgment, and to help you find ways to communicate more effectively and resolve your conflicts in a healthy way.
Full Answer Section
Statement 2: My goal is to create a safe and supportive space where you can all feel comfortable talking about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
I'm sure that you have a lot of questions, so please don't hesitate to ask. I'm also happy to answer any questions you have about family therapy itself.
Statement 3: Please don't hesitate to ask questions.
Before we get started, I'd like to learn a little bit more about you all. Can you each introduce yourselves and tell me a little bit about what brings you here today?
Family: (Introductions and explanations)
Therapist: Thank you for sharing that. It sounds like you're all going through a lot.
Statement 4: Thank you for sharing that.
I'm wondering if you could each tell me a little bit more about your hopes for therapy. What do you want to achieve by coming here today?
Family: (Responses)
Therapist: Thank you for sharing your hopes for therapy. I'll keep those in mind as we work together.
I'm also wondering if there's anything else you'd like me to know about your family or your situation.
Family: (Responses)
Therapist: Thank you for sharing that.
Statement 5: Thank you for sharing that.
I think we have a good start today. I'm looking forward to working with you all and helping you achieve your goals.
Over the course of the session, I would continue to make statements that demonstrate authenticity, trustworthiness, confidence, and knowledge, such as:
- I'm here to listen to you without judgment.
- I'm here to help you communicate more effectively and resolve your conflicts in a healthy way.
- I understand that this is a difficult time for your family, and I'm here to support you.
- I'm confident that we can work together to make things better.
- I'm knowledgeable about family therapy and the challenges that families face.
I would also use my skills and knowledge to help the family identify their goals for therapy, develop a treatment plan, and start to work towards their goals.
Here is an example of a dialogue I might have with a family in the initial session:
Therapist: Okay, so I've heard from everyone about what brings you here today. It sounds like you're all struggling to communicate with each other, and that's leading to a lot of conflict.
Mother: Yes, that's definitely true.
Father: I agree.
Therapist: It's also clear that you all love each other and want to make things better. So that's a great starting point.
Statement 6: I've heard from everyone about what brings you here today. It sounds like you're all struggling to communicate with each other, and that's leading to a lot of conflict.
Statement 7: It's also clear that you all love each other and want to make things better. So that's a great starting point.
I'm wondering if you could each tell me a little bit more about your hopes for therapy. What do you want to achieve by coming here today?
Mother: I want to be able to talk to my husband and kids without getting angry.
Father: I want to be able to listen to my wife and kids without feeling like I'm being attacked.
Child 1: I want to feel like my parents are listening to me.
Child 2: I want to feel like my parents care about what I have to say.
Therapist: Thank you for sharing your hopes for therapy. I'll keep those in mind as we work together.
Statement 8: Thank you for sharing your hopes for therapy. I'll keep those in mind as we work together.
I think the first step is to help you all learn how to communicate