Reflecting on Reflecting Teams

Reflecting Team practice transformed family therapy teams by a practical method of increasing both transparency and collaboration with observers behind the mirror becoming an integral part of the therapy session via team reflections thus adding to the notion of multiple perspectives. I think reflecting teams played a massive role in the shift from first to second order practice. In this workshop, I will trace the developmental shift of Reflecting Team (RT) practice from Tom Andersen before looking at innovative RT variations, including Reflecting Puppet Shows, Reflecting Role Plays, Reflecting Room Swaps and Double Reflections. For discussion will be if these innovations have taken hold in our field or do some remain on the periphery? Is the use of the one-way mirror still useful, or has it become outdated? I will consider these questions and more in a discussion format and also invite participants to share experiences of RT practice both innovate and creative and when less than this. For examples, what conditions help to generate creative RT practice and what may lead to more restrictive innovations and creativity?