Element 1 of 10
Mutuality of endeavor
Consultation can only be effective when the consultee participates fully in the process.
Key points
- Consultants convey the necessity of co-constructing meaning and developing hypotheses together with the consultee.
- A full understanding of a child, family or situation is only possible with input from the consultee.
- The consultant’s advice is useless if it does not consider the consultee’s perspective and understanding of the situation and, ultimately, their willingness to participate in bringing about change.
Source: Element text is reproduced from 10 Elements Comprise the Essential Core of an Effective Consultative Stance, Center of Excellence for Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation (2025).