ABSTRACT
The client must be prepared carefully for this process, because each theme may be a serious and important part of the problem the client is experiencing, as well as an opportunity for positive attitudinaL emotionaL or behavioral change. First, the therapist and client should collaborate in creating the agenda for the sessions. If the client agrees to address a particular theme, the therapist explains the particular program she or he has in mind. The explanation can be general at the outset, with the therapist providing a rationale for the process and what is to be learned. In Chapters 6 through 10, theoretical background for each Focused Genogram is provided to give the clinician a broader perspective on the use of the Focused Genogram in clinical practice. The therapist should present a rationale that makes sense to the client, connecting his or her current presenting problem to past history. Some clients automatically see the value of talking about family history; others wonder why it is important to talk about something so "irrelevant" that happened "such a long time ago." The therapist should ensure that the client appreciates the value of the MFG before beginning.
