A family/systems approach allows us to see the individual in context. The family
and the informal social network constitute the most important environment for a
child. A basic assumption is that changes in family interaction patterns will
have an impact on somatic as well as psychiatric symptoms in the child. In
modern paediatric practice parents are routinely instructed to give their sick
child the prescribed treatment and to implement preventive measures; they are
recruited as part of the medical team. A family/systems approach helps families
to identify their strengths and needs. The approach described here with a
session transcript illustrates how understanding the ways in which family
relationships interact with the course of illness and treatment can influence
quality of life.
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