Combined Family Therapy Research Articles

The practice of community family therapy.

This paper presents a summary of the basic theories and methods of Community Family Therapy (CFT), a relatively new therapeutic approach developed in response to the need for effective intervention in treating low-income, urban families. CFT operates outside of the traditional therapeutic box, successfully combining family therapy techniques with developmental and motivational theories, community mental health, social work, economic development, and community mobilization strategies. CFT utilizes a dualistic approach in which both client and therapist become involved with the same three levels of engagement. Specifically, the client strives for: (a) personal and family change and growth-level 1, (b) accessing community resources-level 2, and (c) leadership development and civic action-level 3. Also, CFT calls upon therapists to strive for: (a) personal growth and maturation-level 1, (b) collaboration with community resources for professional support-level 2, and (c) operation as a "citizen therapist," through civic action and volunteer services-level 3.

Combining day patient treatment with family work in a child psychiatry clinic

The 81 youngsters who began attending a day treatment programme within a 1-year period were assessed using an interval design. The children ranged in age from 18 months to 16 years and attended with similarly aged children for 1 day a week. The treatment programme combined family therapy with the day unit's milieu therapy and specific individual treatment programmes for the child. The results indicate that the combination of a 1 day a week attendance and family therapy had a significant clinical impact upon the problems. The pattern of improvement observed would suggest that the day-unit attendance made a unique contribution to the overall outcome.

An eclectic view of family therapy: When is family therapy the treatment of choice—when is it not?

Abstract Family therapy has grown considerably and is often the treatment of choice for childhood disorders. Despite its effectiveness, there are cases where family therapy is ineffective. Basedon clinical experience, indications and contra‐indications of family therapy are hypothesized. Also, suggestions for combining family therapy with other modalities are provided.