Reconstructive family therapy

Reconstructive family therapy is indicated when a persisting fault in the basic psychological structure or functioning of the family causes psychiatric disorder in one or more members of that family. This form of therapy may also be applied if such a psychological fault prevents the family from adjusting to a life-crisis or challenge.

This form of treatment is based on the principles of systems theory which views family members as behaving inter-dependently such that the behaviour and experience (excluding illness) of a family member cannot be understood without knowledge of the interactions of the individual with the rest of the family members.

Situations in which the type of family therapy has been applied include a family in which a child or adolescent member presents with a conduct disorder.

Strategies used in this form of family therapy include:- - tackling inadequate communication patterns - tackling issues of inappropriate family structure - development of family strategies eg to dismantle disturbed patterns of assumptions, communications and relationships within the family

Behavioural and psychoanalytic methods have been used in this form of family therapy.