ABSTRACT
Family assessment is a process of gathering and organising information about how families function and dysfunction. The aims of such an assessment is to obtain a full understanding and unbiased view of the family. This chapter reviews prevailing models of understanding the family system. It explores how these models can be applied to the alienated family and how they can be used to guide the assessment of family interaction patterns. Consideration is given to assessment tools therapists can use to conduct these assessments. Recommendations for best practice in family assessment with the alienated family are provided.
