THE THERAPY PROCESS

                   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.