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Family Therapy for Child and Youth Mental Health: A Scoping Literature Review
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Family Therapy for Child and Youth Mental Health: A Scoping Literature Review

Eliza Berry, Rosie Bruce and Florin I Oprescu
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, Vol.40(4), pp.429-456
2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/anzf.1393
Appears in  UniSC Diversity and Inclusion Research Collection
url
https://doi.org/10.1002/anzf.1393View
Published Version

Abstract

family therapy interdisciplinary practice mental health training needs brief therapy UniSC Diversity Area - Life Stages
Early intervention in childhood years is an important part of successful therapies for children and adolescents living with or at risk of mental illness. Family therapy acknowledges the role of family relationships, interactions, and family systems in child and youth mental health. To explore the effectiveness and delivery of family therapy in order to inform current family therapy practice in Australian public mental health services, a scoping literature review mapped key concepts of the past 11 years of family therapy research. Current gaps were noted within the following key concepts: family therapy settings and definitions, the influence of family factors on outcomes, transparency of intervention methods, and the training of family therapists. Further research could be undertaken to address current gaps in the literature, specifically: assessment and intervention processes; typical length of time for a series of family sessions; frequency of sessions; and theoretical foundations linked with most effective outcomes, as identified by clinicians, children, and their families. This research would provide a better understanding of best practice and evidence-based family therapy practices that work for children and their families to inform family therapy practice in Australia and beyond. This scoping literature review identified that there is a noteworthy variation in the way brief family therapy is provided, both in terms of the duration and frequency of sessions, as well as the theoretical underpinnings employed. Further research is warranted to explore different service contexts and brief versions of family therapy delivery and the outcomes for the children and their families.

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68 Record Views
3 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas
Family Studies

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being
#5 Gender Equality

Source: InCites

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