by MACHEGE PETER
TEKU/BEDCP/101540
THE THERAPY PROCESS
The Initial Stage
Therapist must be careful not to become entangled into taking sides, or become
engulfed by family anxiety, or become excessively sympathetic or angry with any
member based on what the family member is reporting then he can establish the
rules of the game for further family sessions.
The Initial Session
You want as many family members to come as possible. What if some one does not
want to come? Some family therapists will not proceed without others. WHAT DO
YOU THINK OF THIS? Members are encouraged to sit wherever they want, and the
therapist begins to take note of seating arrangements. Welcome each member
separately. Recognize that some members may need extra encouragement to talk.
Each member's view of the problem must be heard, as well as any attempt to solve
the problems. Some would begin to construct the genogram at this stage. Others
may begin to negotiate what it is the family would like to change. Others try
to adopt an egalitarian role within the family, doing what is called
"joining" the family, making suggestions rather than issuing orders.
Accommodate to the family style of communicating, assessing problems, and
prepare a treatment plan.
Middle Phase
Directed at helping the family members redefine the presenting problem or
symptomatic behavior in the identified patient as a relationship problem to be
viewed within the family context. Here the family becomes the patient and
together they begin to recognize that all have contributed to the problem and
all must participate in changing the ingrained family patterns.
Final Stage
Families learn more effective coping skills and learn better ways to ask for
what they want from one another. Termination is usually easier in family
therapy than in individual therapy because the family has developed an internal
support system and has not become over dependent on the outsider, the
therapist.