ABSTRACT
It is now widely recognized that state-of-the-art treatment planning for any psychiatrically disabled person necessarily includes attention to the role the family will play in rehabilitation efforts, and to the type and intensity of professional activities that will be necessary to support their competently filling that role. In short, the family service plan should be an integral part of the patient's treatment plan. This chapter will i) offer a frame of reference for conceptualizing the clinician's role in working with families. 2) review the skills and knowledge base which are necessary for the family clinician, 3) discuss the goals and procedures for the initial phase of family contact, 4) consider the steps necessary to arrive at a family service plan, and 5) explore some of the implementation issues involved in working with families.
