Engaging Children in Family Therapy: Creative Approaches to Integrating Theory and Research in Clinical Practice

Counseling a child in the context of a family therapy session is a specific skill that has not received the attention that it deserves. This book, intended for both novice and experienced counselors and family therapists, covers a range of topics and offers information on how to effectively counsel children and their families. A common question at the initial meeting of a family therapist and a new client(s) is often whether or not to include a child or children in the counseling sessions. The inclusion of a child in the family therapy process often changes the dynamic between client and therapist - and between the clients themselves - within the context of the counseling sessions. And yet, although this is such a common experience, many counselors and family therapists are not adequately equipped to advise parents on whether to include a child in therapy sessions. Once the child does make an appearance