The purpose of therapy may be said to involve working jointly in order to co-create new ways of perceiving, acting, describing and believing such that not only are problems resolved and health created but new pathways are established for future living. Before a session the team, including the supervisor and therapist, discuss their ideas and hypotheses and prepare some lines of enquiry. With the consent of clients sessions are recorded on video and reviewed for both therapy and training purposes. After the session the team reviews the session and discusses ideas for the next meeting if one has been arranged. Sessions are usually about an hour or an hour and a half in length.
Therapy is usually time-limited.
Intervals between sessions vary and decisions about this are made in discussion between therapist and the client. For example, there may be intervals of one, two, three or even six weeks between sessions. This enables the client and those in their system to own new patterns of interaction, behaviour, language and beliefs rather than attributing them entirely to the therapy. Training involves an exploration and development of skills in questioning and talking with clients so that different positions are experienced and the opportunity is provided to reflect on their consequences - for stories about identity and relationships. The act of reframing creates a new context out of which new meaning and connection can evolve.