Explorations with Families

In this paper I attempt to look at the nature and purpose of explorations with families and discuss possible indications for such work. I then turn to think about the relationship of the child psychotherapist in particular to work with families.

Explorations with families can take different forms and have varied outcomes. An initial contact with a family can range from a short consultation to a more dynamic brief intervention. It may or may not be an introduction to further work, either with the family as a whole, or with individual members. The term “exploration” seems preferable to that of “assessment” because it has a more dynamic connotation, allowing for the possibility of something being accomplished within such a process itself. “Exploration” also lends itself more readily to the idea of a two-way process. Feelings within a family about the nature of the service and the institution offering it may need to be thought about openly; it should not be solely a matter of an assessment of a potentially “suitable case for treatment” being made by the institution. “Assessment” can carry both passive and persecutory connotations, with implications of being assessed “for” something — and possibly found wanting.

Mr. and Mrs. Field requested a private consultation for themselves and their eighteen-year-old son, Ken; they said they were concerned about him in general, but in particular sought help following his two recent convictions for travelling without a rail ticket. (Although a private consultation the issues discussed here are also relevant to work in a clinic.) As the parents were asking for help about what they saw as Ken's problem, a family intervention with the potential of bringing these factors together seemed appropriate. Having established that Ken was the only child living at home, and willing to be seen with his parents, I agreed to see them as they suggested, offering a few exploratory sessions in which we could conside