ABSTRACT
Therapists must be able to explain family treatment in a manner that makes sense to the family. For example, we are often presented with families with a problem or dysfunction that is easy to describe, yet the family cannot or does not seem to find any meaning in the explanation or treatment that we first provide. It is therefore necessary to use alternative explanations. The many alternative theories of family therapy have well-developed rationales, strategies, and proponents. Each theory regards the family and explains its functioning in a somewhat different fashion. Some theories clearly explain certain phenomena but are vague about others.
