ARE FAMILY THERAPISTS LISTENING TO THE YOUNG - A PSYCHOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

This paper sets out to examine the family therapist's relationship to young children from a psychological perspective. Earlier contributions to the literature regarding the involvement of children in family ses sions are reviewed briefly. Aspects of attachment theory and Piaget's theory of cognitive development are considered in terms of their impli cations for family therapy. It is argued that family therapists should be mindful of parents' responsibilities for meeting their children's needs, particularly their need to experience predictability and to hav e a coherent story about their lives. The importance of exploring the effects of adult choices on the children is also emphasized.