Preparing for a Family Treatment Session
A family session can involve different hopes and concerns. Ask what the session is for, who is taking part, and how the clinician wants each person to prepare.
For: Adult family members, partners and other supporters · 2 PDF pages
No email or account is required. Use the PDF or printed spaces for private notes. This guide does not collect worksheet answers. Save and reopen a completed PDF to check your notes.
SAMHSA’s quality-treatment guidance describes family involvement as something that can be included when desired by the person receiving care. Family-support guidance also points to therapy and counseling for the family. This worksheet does not decide who may participate or what information a clinician may disclose.
Questions for the clinician before the session
| Topic | Ask before assuming |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Is this treatment planning, family therapy, education or another kind of meeting? |
| Participants | Who will attend? How are agreement and participation arranged? |
| Privacy | What is recorded or shared, with whom, and what are the limits of confidentiality? |
| Speaking and disagreement | How will everyone have a chance to speak? Can someone ask for a pause or a separate conversation? |
| Access | What communication, interpreter, technology or accessibility arrangements can we make? |
My preparation
- My most important issue or question
- Describe an example and what you hope to understand or work out.
- Privacy or participation questions to ask first
- What do I want clarified before sharing? Keep anything especially sensitive on a separate private note if preferred.
Before the meeting ends
- Ask what, if anything, was agreed.
- Name any issue that is still unresolved.
- Confirm who will take each next step and how follow-up will happen.
- Ask whom to contact with questions about the session or plan.
The follow-up we actually agreed
- Agreement, person and next step
- Write only confirmed arrangements. Keep unanswered issues visible.