Family systems ideas in the 10-minute consultation: using a reflecting partner or observing team in a surgery.

Background: Family therapy and the ideas that underlie it have not had much impact on general practice, although there is good reason to think this could be a useful approach.

Aim: As a group of general practitioners (and a practice nurse) with experience of family therapy, we were interested in demonstrating whether family therapy methods could usefully inform general practice consultations.

Method: Two surgeries were observed by the general practitioner's colleagues.

Results: Selected cases are discussed to illustrate the impact of the use of family therapy ideas and a reflecting colleague or team.

Conclusions: Family therapy ideas can be a helpful framework within which to think about both demanding and ordinary consultations. Inviting a colleague to contribute respectfully could be useful both as a method of teaching, and in resolving difficult or faltering consultations.