Скачать или смотреть AODS 153: Family Assessment in Substance Use Treatment

Clinical assessment of a family system is a method of gathering information about a family’s situation and identifying family dynamics (patterns of relating or behavior). Assessment is also used to identify particular problems, stressors, concerns, or strengths that the family may want to work on in family counseling. This information will then be used to develop a treatment plan, which is used to identify and design specific treatment interventions tailored to the family’s unique circumstances. It can be helpful to see the assessment as creating a type of information “map” used to plan where the treatment may initially go and a discussion of the map together to make sure everyone sees things the same way and there is general agreement about the direction in which the treatment is heading.

In a substance use treatment setting, the family assessment will also include an assessment of not only how a family member(s) substance use is impacting the family system, but also how the family system is impacting the substance use. The goal of a family assessment in substance use treatment is to try and identify both factors. Family assessment for families who attend counseling in substance use treatment programs also includes an analysis of the family’s support system, their education about substance use and abuse, and other potential concerns that may benefit from a referral to a marriage, child, or family therapist.