ABSTRACT

Some parents prefer to seek advice from therapists and see no reason to involve their child directly. They may feel resentful that other children in the family have been brought to the session and have to miss school. Parents may wish to exclude children for fear that the child may disclose details of a family taboo or shame a parent by accusing or arguing and threatening parental authority. Convening the "non-residential" parent can provide recognition of this parent's responsibility and importance in the life of the child. Extended family members, particularly grandparents, may also be important to consider in convening the first sessions. This gives the therapist more direct access to three-generational patterns of parenting and the significance of grandparents in influencing parenting styles and values. Professionals referring child-focused problems for therapy will present some personal and/or professional biases and may have become drawn into perceiving the family in relatively fixed ways.