How to Coach Yourself and Others Coaching Families | Page 235
Appendix V: Closing letter to referrer
A letter should be sent to the referrer after therapy has ended and should include:
Reasons and date of original referral.
Number of meetings held
Who attended the meetings
The family’s concerns
Systemic Formulation/Understanding of Difficulties
Themes covered in meetings
Utility of therapy for the family
Evaluation of current state
Future plans
Copies to other agencies involved, with family’s permission
Dear Dr Jones
Re: Smith family - 11 James Avenue, Leeds, LS2.
You will remember you referred the Smith family for family therapy in March 1998, for help with
bereavement issues.
The family attended for 5 appointments. We saw them last in November 1998 and a further appointment
for December was cancelled. All members of the family attended meetings following an initial meeting
with Mr & Mrs Smith alone.
The parents outlined to us their concerns that their 2 children Jodie (6years) & John (9years), were
expressing no grief relating to the death of their elder sister Julie, who died in a car crash in September
1997. Mr & Mrs Smith were concerned about how the loss was affecting them in both their achievement
and behaviour at school, and expressed a wish that they were more able to talk about the issue as a family.
Our 5 meetings were spent looking at the effect Julie’s death had had on both the parents and the children,
and the stories they had developed for understanding what had happened. At the family’s request we also
invited the Headmistress of the children’s school, Mrs Small, to look at ways the children could express
their grief about Julie’s death within the school setting. In addition we thought about ways they might be
supported to develop their concentration, when distracted or upset at school.
The family used all of the meetings to their fullest, and communication concerning the bereavement
improved very rapidly. The children also reported feeling happier at school.
We had planned to continue, but the family phoned and left a message to say they felt things had
improved at home and at school and they would contact us again if the need arose. We left it with them
that we would be very happy to see them again if requested.
Yours sincerely
Dr Peter Stratton
Family Therapist
On behalf of The Leeds Family Therapy Team
c.c. Mrs Small, Headmistress, Jacob School
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