Tools for practitioners
The DOORS Everyday Tools are designed to help you identify, understand, and respond to challenges that families may face.
DOORS Versions
There are four DOORS versions using the Family DOORS Framework (McIntosh & Ralfs, 2012a), which is set out in the DOORS Handbook (McIntosh & Ralfs, 2012b). Three of these are available in the Family DOORS Everyday app.
Family Law DOORS is for adult clients in dispute about a family law matter with another adult person such as:
- two people or more mediating about parenting arrangements for dependent children
- parents or carers arranging supervised visits or changeover for dependent children
- former partners needing a property settlement after a relationship separation
- individual clients seeking family law advice which may result in family law court proceedings.
Family Law DOORS covers non-parent parties in parenting matters who are significant others to children (such as grandparents, kinship carers, aunts/uncles and any other person who can demonstrate a meaningful connection and interest in the children). Based on answers by a client to some demographic questions in Family DOORS Everyday, Family Law DOORS will be tailored to a client’s individual situation.
MyDOORS is for adult clients who are seeking counselling or therapy, or who need case management for different issues or needs. Each adult client individually completes his/her/their own MyDOORS such as:
- couples seeking relationship counselling
- family members seeking family therapy individuals starting their own counselling after significant or potentially traumatic life events
- parents or carers wishing for their dependent children to receive counselling
- people searching for birth family or needing support after being in care as a child
Based on answers by a client to some demographic questions in Family DOORS Everyday, the MyDOORS will be tailored to a client’s individual situation such as additional questions about being a parent or carer to dependent children, or about current or recent separation.
Young Persons’ DOORS is intended for young people aged seeking counselling or needing case management who don’t have dependent children. It is aimed at young people aged approximately 15-20 years who are:
- engaging in relationship counselling or family therapy
- starting their own counselling after significant or potentially traumatic life events
- needing additional support and case management after significant life events like leaving state care
Young Persons’ DOORS is not intended for young people who have dependent children (use MyDOORS) or in family law disputes (use Family Law DOORS).
Kids’ DOORS is for children approximately 6-16 years usually after meeting with their parents/carers (or with appropriate consent) such as:
- children beginning their own individual counselling or family therapy
- consulting children if their parents/carers are in dispute parenting arrangements as part of family law mediation
- where children’s voices must be heard prior to decisions being made in their best interest such as placements into out-of-home care or during family group conferences
Kids’ DOORS is for use with each child individually and tailored to the child’s developmental need and presentation. Practitioners are encouraged to be creative in the administration of Kids’ DOORS (such as using cards with questions printed on them).