Three models of family therapy: prevention, crisis treatment or rehabilitation

Models of intervention at a family level are described as preventive, crisis intervention or rehabilitative. The preventive intervention model suggests that certain stresses produce family disorganization and individual family members may regress to symptoms of disease. Family dysfunction could be avoided through identification of high risk groups and intervention at developmental milestones. The data on early intervention with children has produced the most promising results. Crisis intervention, the second model, suggests that early identification and prompt intervention may avoid the development of more serious disorganization. The rehabilitation model is focused on changing long term patterns of maladaptive behavior. It includes the homeostatsis model, the conflict resolution model and other approaches to long term family therapy.