A family systems approach for preventing adolescent runaway behavior

A family therapy approach, combining the conceptual frameworks of the Bowen model and Olson's Circumplex model, was used to restructure family relationships in order to prevent further runaway behavior of a 15-year-old Mexican-American female. A structured family interview was conducted to identify problems, a genogram was used to obtain the family's history, and therapy (family, individual, and mother-daughter) was provided to change the family system. The Family Satisfaction Scale was administered to evaluate the effectiveness of this therapeutic approach.