Working together
Couple and family therapy can take different forms. Some people come together to understand a recurring difficulty; others want to discuss a change in their relationship or family life. The people involved, their aims and the approach will shape the work.
Parents, carers and children
Parenting and family relationships can be explored in different settings. Work may involve a parent or carer, a child, or family members together; the people taking part and the purpose of the work can differ.
Questions about a child’s participation, consent and privacy need to be considered in their own setting and jurisdiction.
Questions about privacy
When more than one person is involved, it can help to ask how confidentiality and records will be handled. The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy suggests discussing what happens if a practitioner meets participants individually as well as together. Arrangements depend on the practitioner, setting and jurisdiction.
Finding an approach
Practitioners may draw on different traditions and have different training. Asking about their experience with the kind of work you are considering can help you understand what they offer. Therapy does not have a single expected outcome for every relationship.
Questions you might ask
- Who will take part, and how are decisions about participation made?
- How will confidentiality work in joint and individual meetings?
- What experience and training do you have in this kind of work?
- How can we discuss our different hopes for the process?