ABSTRACT
In North America, dealing with the mentally ill traditionally has been marked by a preference toward focusing on the individual and largely ignoring the family or treating it with indifference, ambivalence, or sometimes outright hostility. Although a small number of texts and other writings emphasize the importance of integrating individual and family perspectives in major mental illness (Hatfield, 1994; Lansky, 1981, 1985; Perlmutter, 1996), the important role of family therapy in the treatment of mental health problems continues to be underrepresented in the literature.
