Collaborative therapy in family therapy is characterized by:

• A. A single therapist treats the entire family
• B. A different therapist sees each spouse or family member
• C. Therapy is conducted with only the couple
• D. Therapists switch sessions between groups and individuals randomly

Answer: (B)

Collaborative therapy uses a team approach, often with each family member seeing a different therapist who then coordinates with the others to guide a unified treatment plan. This arrangement lets individuals speak more freely with someone they trust, reduces power dynamics or resistance that can arise when one therapist handles everyone, and gives the clinicians a fuller, multi-perspective view of the family’s dynamics. By sharing insights and aligning goals among the therapists, the treatment remains coherent and consistent for everyone involved, which helps track progress across the whole family system.

This differs from having a single therapist treat the entire family, which centers on one voice rather than a coordinated team; or focusing therapy only on the couple, which excludes other family members; or randomly switching therapists, which disrupts continuity and undermines coordinated intervention.