ABSTRACT
The family is a complex and integrated whole whose patterns of interaction and negotiation are circular rather than linear. Navigating the family system raised the question about how to navigate the research process, that is, what is an appropriate strategy for studying the family's developmental and interactional processes, especially in the context of its environment? How do we best explore the way families strive and survive one member's developmental transition through adolescence while the rest of the members' lives continue on their own trajectories? The eco maps were used for enhancing the way in which data were gathered from and about the families being interviewed. The eco map can be used as a qualitative research tool for developing theoretical knowledge across a large sample of clients.
