Some diagnostic and psychotherapeutic implications of community awareness

A state child diagnostic service, working with welfare departments and courts throughout Colorado in diagnosing and planning for emotionally disturbed children, moves from its traditional diagnostic function toward an increasing diagnostic-consultation service. This shift results from awareness of the rising importance of viewing pathology in its more complete context of child-family-agency-community. This outlook is vital not only to better understand the nature and operation of the child's pathology, but also to be able to help the referring agency in its ongoing work with the family. Two case studies illustrate the family-community problematic interaction, as well as contrasting methods of working with this context.