FixThatNow
Family therapy enquiry — Psychologist
A family may want help understanding patterns of interaction or managing a difficult transition rather than negotiating a legal agreement. Describe the support sought, participant age groups and preferred format, leaving identifiable information about children and private family history for confidential intake.
Service scope
Psychological or therapeutic work considering relationships within a family or other relevant relational system, delivered by a suitably qualified professional. It is not the same as family mediation, an assessment of legal parenting rights or an assumption that every family member must attend.
What is normally included
- Clarification of relational support needs
- Appropriate family or systemic assessment
- Agreed session participation and coordination
What is not included
- Custody or legal-rights decisions
- Compulsory participation of every relative
- Guaranteed resolution of family conflict
Typical tasks
- Clarify the family-support request
- Identify relevant participant roles
- Establish consent and age-appropriate arrangements
- Agree a suitable therapeutic format
- Review participation and coordination needs
What to include in your brief
- Broad relational concern
- Participant roles and age groups
- Preferred meeting format
- Existing professional involvement
- Language and access requirements
Choosing the right professional
Ask about family or systemic therapy competence, work with the relevant ages and how participation is decided. Clarify consent, safeguarding and confidentiality across sessions; the service should not be confused with mediation, investigation or a legal family report.
Important considerations
- Consent and confidentiality can be complex across participants
- A family enquiry may include safeguarding concerns
- Therapy does not determine formal parenting arrangements
Related services
Explore FixThatNow
Describe the work, choose the service and location, and receive relevant responses.