ABSTRACT
The Finding Direction period of a couples session is the time that the direction for the session is usually uncovered, laid out, and/or set. It may be the most important choice point for the session because it usually determines where the session will head. The direction can change at any moment, but the initial direction often prevails. Being in this Finding Direction period is like being at a huge intersection with many lanes. Sometimes the traffic lights and the lane markers are clear and sometimes the intersection may be chaotic. The couples therapist needs to keep track of all the possibilities of where the cars may go, who goes in what order, who feels entitled, who hangs back, who follows the 'rules', and who does what they want. The therapist needs to make sure that both people have had a chance to weigh in on the choice.
