Collaboration: family and therapist perspectives of helpful therapy

This qualitative study examined how a group of families and their therapists described helpful therapy. The qualitative analysis generated family and therapist perspectives. As a double description, the therapist and family perspectives highlighted conversation, participation, and relationship as three core areas of helpful therapy. These are specified by categories and subcategories that center upon activities of sharing experiences, contributing own knowledge and personal involvement, posing questions, reformulating and giving feedback, and specifying the therapeutic relationship as a relationship of collaboration. Discussion of similarities and differences between the perspectives provides a description of what constitutes good therapy for the families and therapists and points to expansion of the models that have guided the therapists.