ABSTRACT
This chapter describes enduring concepts of collaborative practices, including: reality is socially constructed through language, therapy is a dialogic process between conversational partners, therapists assume an unassuming, humble, not-knowing stance, and therapy is a mutual endeavor toward possibilities. It focuses on ways in which societal context and power shape and influence dialogic processes in and out of therapy. The chapter shows how to intentionally weave principles of sociocultural attunement into the fabric of the collaborative approach, specifically examining practices that lead to transformational change. It provides guidelines for practicing socioculturally attuned collaborative family therapy. A critically informed stance requires therapists to bring critical consciousness to their work. Collaborative therapists must carefully assess how a person’s identity and social location affects their ability to be a collaborative partner across multiple contexts, as well as with the therapist in the course of therapy. The chapter discusses a case in which the therapist was working from a socioculturally attuned collaborative approach.
