Invitational Counseling

This article presents invitational counseling as an approach to use in marriage and family therapy. The language and basic tenets of invitational counseling are reviewed, and its compatibility with marriage and family therapy is illustrated with examples and case studies. The Five P’s, (people, places, policies, programs, and processes) are suggested as a model for assessing marriages and relationships in the beginning of the counseling process. The article also proposes that invitational counseling be used as both a problem-solving and educational approach in working with couples and families.