The therapy process is made up of several stages:

1. In family therapy, the first stage allows the therapist an initial acquaintance with the family, understanding of the family background and interactions between the family members.
2. In couple therapy - acquaintance with the couple, both as individual people and as a pair. Introduction to their background and other significant people in their lives.
3. The making of mutual decisions regarding the subjects that the client wants to work on.
4. The "therapeutic agreement": defining the relations between the client and the therapist, and determining the number of sessions that will be held.
5. Working sessions.
6. An interim summary, during or after the sixth session.
7. A summary at the end of the twelfth session - sometimes the end of therapy, and sometimes leading to a fresh agreement.