‘Can I tell?’ Children’s participation and positioning in a secretive atmosphere in family therapy

Abstract

As a multifaceted phenomenon, family secrets affect interaction in the therapeutic system. This qualitative study, applying the multi‐actor Dialogical Methods for Investigations of Happening of Change, explored how children participated and positioned themselves in family therapy in a climate of family secrets. The results showed that the children were active co‐participants in the complex dynamics of a secretive atmosphere, involving themselves in the paradoxical processes of reconstructing and deconstructing the secretive and unsafe climate. In family therapy, a child’s symptomatic behaviour can function as a visible ‘cover story’ for invisible constructions of secrets, preventing sensitive topics from becoming the focus of therapy. Family secrets therefore continue to present a challenge in family therapy practice and research.Practitioner points Family secrets should be asked about in pre‐therapy assessment and diagnostic interviews where all family members are present The genogram enables the exploration of multigenerational family patterns and functions that might be influenced by family secrets By normalising the phenomenon of family secrets, therapists could make room for joint discussions on these and encourage family members to talk about their good reasons for keeping secrets