Family Group Intake by a Child Guidance Clinic Team

Abstract

Family group intake by a child guidance clinic team is an intake method devised by the Riley Child Guidance Clinic, Indiana University Medical Center. This procedure substitutes a family unit for the usual single informant and uses a 3-discipline team in place of a single interviewer. In the following paper, this method will be described and discussed in terms of its effect on diagnostic studies, team work, patients, and teaching. Background The importance of family dynamics and interpersonal relationships in the diagnosis and treatment of disturbed children has long been stressed by many mental health workers. This emphasis led to the practice of collaborative therapy of the child and his parents, and more recently to Family Group Therapy.^1-4,6 In diagnostic studies, family diagnosis has traditionally been derived from the study of individual family members. In addition to this, some clinics and family service agencies have from