A great deal of clinical research has sought to describe and suggest remedies for the client dropout phenomenon. However, few studies have addressed the equally pervasive, yet often ignored, non-engagement problem. An exploratory study was conducted to understand why many clients fail to engage in family therapy services after they have completed the initial intake. The results of the study suggest that therapist gender and experience level, clinic policies regarding videotaping sessions, family concerns, and changes in the presenting problem prior to the first session, had an impact on potential clients' decision to engage in therapy. Implications and future research are discussed.
Clinical intuition has been a topic of interest in the mental health literature for years. However, while literature on intuition from various other helping professions exists, little has been researched or written about marriage and family therapists' (MFTs') experiences and views. In this qualitative phenomenological study we explored how MFTs view and experience intuition in clinical work. Eight MFTs were interviewed and answered questions regarding their views and use of intuition in therapy. We present findings through participants' descriptions of intuition, its function in clinical work, and how it is experienced. We found that these MFTs value and use intuition in therapy, and that it may be a unique source of relationally based information and guidance. Implications for clinical practice and training are discussed, along with directions for future research.
Keywords Clinical intuition Á MFT ways of knowingClinical intuition is an enigma. Many have written about the important role of intuition in clinical work, both lauding its importance (e.
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