A survey of family therapists concerning the inclusion of young children in family therapy

Abstract

A survey of 126 randomly selected family therapists investigated attitudes and practices concerning including young children (four years of age and under) in family therapy sessions. The sample was overwhelmingly in favor of including young children, but 70% of the sample included young children less than half of the time they had the opportunity. Moderating variables which were discussed included topics too sensitive to be discussed in front of the children, the lack of clarity in the literature, the need to interact with young children in an affective rather than cognitive way, and the lack of academic and experiential training in the area of child development.