Benefits Of A Family History - 1088 Words

There are a number of pros and cons that come with therapists taking a detailed family history. An advantage in taking a full family history is that it allows therapists to help their clients learn from their family history by developing a healthy perspective on their past. Instructing the clients to reflect on their past can help them come to terms and provide a sense of comfort in facing their past. Another reason is that it helps the therapist gain a fuller understanding of the family. Getting full details of family history is important to understand the past events that have occurred. Here the therapist may have plans for the family s treatment for therapy and therapeutic goals each member can obtain. Asking the right questions†¦show more content†¦There are many benefits of making it mandatory for the entire family to attend the initial session. In the initial session, the therapist goes over the confidentiality of the therapy, goals of treatment, share what the family will expect, and listens to each member s viewpoint of their problems and the reason why they are seeking treatment. The initial session can show the therapist how the family communicates and gets to observe the dynamic of the family. Also in the initial session, the therapist will establish a therapeutic alliance with the clients. The therapist is here for each member of the family and will remain objective. Clients are not just in therapy to talk about their problems, they are here to become stronger as individuals and as a family as a whole. A limitation of making it mandatory for the entire family to attend the initial session is that it may be hard to control. When the whole family is together, it may lead to lots of shouting which can cause the session to take a negative turn. The members can get out of control and ultimately the session will be counterproductive to the treatment process. It is important that members speak at one time and give each member a chance to express their feelings. Another limitation is that some members may prefer to speak individually rather than in a larger group. When required to participate in a group therapy, they may feel uncomfortable and be unwilling to engage.