Question

You are a family therapist conducting an initial intake with a family that includes the father, mother and two teen-aged children, one male and one female. They are self-referred and the only information made available prior to meeting with the family is that their teenage daughter has been arguing with her parents. What are some of the issues or areas of inquiry will you want to pursue with the family in the first 15 minutes of the session? In other words, how will you start the intake interview and what information will you attempt to gather? Be sure to list at least three questions you will ask the family and three behaviors you would look for when meeting with them at the intake session.

Answer 1

INTRODUCTION :- Family therapist refers to those therapist who is being involved with solving the problems that is being prevailed in any family and among its members.Such therapists seeks to find the root cause behind the problem,and thus through his therapies,and with the help members of family,tries to resolve their issues.

Being a family therapist,i am conducting an initial intake with a family,including mother,father and two teen children,a boy and a girl.They are self referred and the only information i had is that their daughter was arguing with her parents.

The area of issues where i will focus in this therapy session,specifically in the start 15 minute is firstly to figure out the relation between each member of family,that is their rapport among the members of family.Thereafter it is even required to know that if they have some past history,which could be traumatic for them.Thus,finally going through every word with them,and analyzing their behavior,i will conclude the issue that is underlying in their family.

But in order to gather all this information,the initial intake is required,which sole aim is to help the therapist to get to know the client and find out the the problem by analyzing their words and behavior and comes up with the solution.As it can only be possible by some questions which a therapist asks to the client.so some of such questions are as follows :-

• The very first question which i will ask them after they settle and down,and brief me with their introduction is the purpose of their visit.As they are self referred,what makes them to pay a visit to the therapist.
• The second question is that the relation which they share among them.That is among parents themselves,and the relation which they have with their children.
• The third question will be about their past,as such if their is any specific incident,after which the regular behavior of member changed,leading them to current situation.

While they were answering these questions and more others during the interview session,i will note down in my mind some of their behavior such as :-

• Their body language while answering,and note down if there is any specific change in the behavior and body language,while answering any particular question.
• The behavior which is not conscious,that is it could be found while getting to know their past behavior,which they might seem normal,but could be actual cause of problem.
• Most important thing,the kind of relation parents share with each other,and the their children,as it is very important aspect in dealing with any of the problem that is prevailed in family.