Family therapy--where are we, and where are we going?

There has been considerable growth and development in the field of family assessment and therapy over the past thirty years. This management approach provides a useful tool in the assessment, management and treatment of children, adolescents and families with various psychiatric disorders and mental health problems. This paper provides a broad overview and a critical evaluation of the present state of the art, paying particular attention to the integration and present status of clinical practice, theoretical models, research, teaching and training programs. Based on the emerging trends, directions for the future are suggested including an exploration of the integration of different therapeutic modalities. Finally, the practical problems associated with the teaching of these approaches in General Psychiatry Training Programs are addressed.