Re:Shared understanding

It is quite valuable to develop a shared understanding of the client's problems early in treatment. This provides a foundation for a collaborative relationship, improves treatment adherence, and makes it easier to get the client to persist in doing what is needed to overcome their problems.

However, this does not mean that a perfect understanding is needed before beginning treatment. Many problems take time to understand and, when this is the case, therapist and client develop a shared understanding over the course of the initial sessions.

Also, initial understandings often are refined or revised later in therapy when more information is available. Thus we endeavor to develop a shared understanding during initial sessions (taking as long as is necessary) and revise or refine the shared understanding over the course of therapy as new information emerges.

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Re:Shared understanding , by BOB, 02/19/04

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