Family Therapy Session Template

Session Participants:

Present: Maria Rodriguez (mother, age 42), Carlos Rodriguez (father, age 45), Sofia Rodriguez (daughter, age 16), and Miguel Rodriguez (son, age 13). Entire family attended as scheduled. Seating arrangement: Parents sat together on the couch, Sofia sat in the armchair to the left, and Miguel sat in the chair to the right, creating some physical distance between siblings and parents.

Presenting Concerns:

Maria expressed concern about increasing conflict in the home, particularly around Sofia's recent behavior changes including staying out past curfew and declining grades. She stated "We don't recognize our daughter anymore" and feels Sofia is "pulling away from the family." Carlos echoed Maria's concerns and added frustration about feeling "disrespected" when Sofia doesn't respond to questions. Sofia stated she feels "constantly criticized" and "like I can't do anything right." She expressed desire for more independence and privacy, noting that her parents "don't trust me anymore." Miguel remained quiet initially but eventually shared that he feels "caught in the middle" of family arguments and misses when the family "used to have fun together." All family members agreed that communication has deteriorated and that they want to "get back to being a family."

Session Content and Process:

The session explored the family's communication patterns and the recent shifts in family dynamics as Sofia enters later adolescence. We discussed developmental needs for autonomy during teenage years while also validating parents' concerns about safety and academics. A significant portion of the session focused on a recent incident where Sofia stayed out two hours past curfew without calling, which escalated into a major argument. Each family member shared their perspective on this event, revealing different interpretations and emotional responses. Sofia became tearful when discussing feeling like her parents don't listen to her side of things, which created a softening moment for Maria who acknowledged "maybe we do jump to conclusions sometimes." Carlos was able to share his underlying fear about Sofia's safety, which helped Sofia understand his strictness differently. Miguel contributed important observations about how family stress affects him, which prompted parents to be more mindful of arguing in front of him.

Relational Dynamics and Patterns:

Clear pattern observed of Maria speaking for Carlos at times, with Carlos nodding agreement rather than voicing his own perspective directly. This suggests possible enmeshment between parents. Sofia demonstrated defensive body language (crossed arms, minimal eye contact) when parents raised concerns but became more open when I reflected her feelings. Miguel took on a mediator role, attempting to smooth over tensions between parents and Sofia, which may indicate parentification. Communication pattern of pursue-withdraw evident with Maria pursuing Sofia with questions and Sofia withdrawing and avoiding conversation. When Sofia did engage, parents tended to interrupt with corrections or explanations, which shut down Sofia's sharing. Noticed improvement when I coached parents to listen without responding immediately. Positive alliance between siblings observed when discussing missing family activities.

Therapeutic Interventions:

Used circular questioning to help family members understand each other's perspectives: "When Sofia stays out late, what do you imagine she's thinking about you?" Implemented structured communication exercise where each person shared without interruption, which successfully reduced defensiveness. Reframed Sofia's behavior as age-appropriate developmental push for independence rather than intentional disrespect, which helped parents depersonalize her actions. Externalized "the conflict" as something affecting the family rather than locating the problem within Sofia. Highlighted moments of connection and empathy during session to reinforce positive interactions. Coached parents in reflective listening skills in real-time. Tracked and gently interrupted pattern of Maria speaking for Carlos, encouraging him to share his own voice.

Progress and Changes:

The family made meaningful progress today in understanding underlying emotions beneath surface conflicts. Both parents demonstrated increased awareness of how their anxiety about Sofia manifests as control and criticism. Sofia showed willingness to understand parents' fears rather than just reacting to rules. The emotional moment when Sofia cried and Maria validated her feelings represented a shift from the typical pursue-defend pattern. Miguel's acknowledgment of feeling caught in the middle helped parents recognize impact of conflict on him. The family successfully practiced reflective listening during the structured exercise and expressed appreciation for being heard. Some rigidity remains in parental rules without room for negotiation, which will require continued attention.

Individual Member Notes:

Maria: Highly engaged and motivated for change. Shows some anxiety about loosening parental control. Would benefit from psychoeducation about adolescent development. Carlos: Less verbally active but attentive. May benefit from individual encouragement to voice his perspective independent of Maria's input. Showed genuine emotion when discussing fear for Sofia's safety. Sofia: Initially resistant but became more engaged as session progressed. Demonstrated maturity in articulating her feelings when given space to do so. May need individual support around academic stress that wasn't fully addressed in family session. Miguel: Perceptive and emotionally intelligent. Concern about parentification role - will monitor this pattern. He appears receptive to therapy and could benefit from being included in treatment goals around reducing his mediator burden.

Between-Session Tasks:

Family agreed to implement a weekly family meeting (Sunday evenings, 30 minutes) where each person shares one positive thing from their week and one challenge, with others practicing reflective listening without problem-solving. Parents will practice "curiosity before criticism" - asking Sofia open-ended questions before jumping to conclusions when they have concerns. Sofia agreed to proactively communicate with parents if plans change rather than waiting until after curfew. Family will collaborate on planning one fun activity together within the next two weeks, with each person contributing one idea. Provided handout on reflective listening skills for reference.

Next Session:

November 13, 2025 at 5:00 PM. All family members expected to attend. Focus will be on reviewing the success of family meetings and communication experiments, addressing curfew and boundaries with more collaborative negotiation, and continuing to build skills for managing conflict constructively. Will check in with Miguel about his experience since this session and ensure he feels supported. May consider individual session with Sofia if academic stress concerns warrant separate attention.