Hello everyone! Previously, I described how the first psychological consultation goes during an individual appeal (https://www.b17.ru/article/364010/?prt=shmonina). Today I want to tell you how the first meeting of a psychologist with a married couple goes. Often the initiator of the appeal Only one person speaks to the specialist. Other family members do not see the problems, do not notice, and in general everything is fine with them. As excellent family psychologists S.V. Grigorschuk and I.D. said. Efremova: “The initiator of the appeal comes under the pressure of a symptom, and the rest come under the pressure of the initiator.” The very fact that the couple came for a consultation speaks to me not so much about the presence of problems, but about the readiness to do something about them, solve them, fight them. Usually in our country, families come for consultation when things are not going well at all, it is impossible to reach an agreement, and the crisis is in full swing. It would be a mistake to assume that a psychologist will take out a magic wand and remove all disagreements and quarrels. But in the presence of a specialist, some things are actually seen/heard/perceived completely differently. Unlike individual counseling, where the main value is one client, here the psychologist’s attention and participation are divided equally. Everyone who comes to the meeting is equally valuable and significant. This should be discussed at the very beginning of the meeting. Another feature of couples counseling is the specialist’s slightly more directive behavior. It is necessary to outline some rules of conduct during the meeting. Usually it’s about respect, equal opportunities to express one’s point of view and equal rights to be heard. Then the meeting most often takes place in the format of a circular interview. This means that the family psychologist asks one question after another, first to one partner, then to the other. With the clients' permission, recordings are made. The very format of such a conversation can be very therapeutic, as it reveals a lot of new things about the partner, his opinions and feelings. The first consultation with the family is usually diagnostic; you won’t be able to discuss very much. At the end, the psychologist is interested in the condition of each participant in the process, discusses the date of the next meeting with the family, and asks not to discuss what is happening during the session at home. If appropriate, he can give homework. Here are the main nuances of a consultation with a family psychologist. If you have any questions, or have any additions or comments, I’ll be glad to chat in the comments. Thank you for your attention! All the best!