The place of family therapy in modern British child psychiatry

The changing nature of family and systemic therapy, its prevalent ethos, and the context in which it is used in child psychiatry in the UK is described, in contrast to the way that it is practised in the USA. The evidence base for the conditions for which family therapy has been effective is summarized, and the contribution that it has made to the trainings and skills offered by other professional groups such as psychiatrists is described. Conclusions are drawn about the good fit between the ethos of family therapy and the modern National Health Service, making the further expansion and development of the profession desirable.