Levels of interventions for MFTs working with family businesses

Brian Distelberg1, Carolina Castanos

  • 1Loma Linda University, Counseling and Family Science, 113 Griggs Hall, Loma Linda, California 92350, USA. bdistelberg@llu.edu

Family businesses (FBs) are a significant population in the world and therefore part of most practicing marriage and family therapists (MFTs) clientele; however, little is mentioned about FBs in the training of MFTs. This article offers some guidance to practicing MFTs who service this population, as well as MFTs who wish to expand their practice into a focused consultation practices with FB systems. This article uses Doherty's Levels of Family Involvement Model as a road map for MFTs to organize the vast amount of literature on FB systems as well as the many ways in which MFTs might serve FBs. We also offer suggestions for the necessary skills, experiences, and levels of engagement required at each level of intervention provided by MFTs.

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