ABSTRACT
This chapter begins by describing the basic family systems concepts, which include key family characteristics, structure, process, and the life cycle. It discusses general principles for family interviewing and provides a broad outline for conducting goal-oriented family conferences. The chapter details the definition of family as "a group of people related by blood or choice who move together through time". Family characteristics interact with genetic predispositions to affect psychosocial functioning, response to stress, and poor health behaviors. Family structure has an impact on patients' health and healthcare behaviors. The family life cycle provides a template for quickly assessing the developmental challenges of a patient and their family. The family conference can be divided into five phases that generally occur in sequence: greet the family members, clarify and further articulate the goals, discuss the challenges to success, acknowledge previous successes and means of success and make a plan.
