ISSUES OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT: FAMILY PRESERVATION MODEL CONTRASTED WITH THE FAMILY THERAPY BEHAVIORAL MODEL
The purpose of this paper is to compare and contrast the family preservation and family behavioral models of therapy for the treatment of issues of abuse and neglect. To this end, the paper reviews similarities and dissimilarities in components, elements, and postulates of both models. A brief look at the effectiveness of the two models is also presented.
Family Preservation Versus Behavioral Model
The Behavioral and Family Preservation models of family therapy for family systems dealing with issues of abuse and neglect have both commonalities and differences. Regarding commonalities, family preservation or the notion of keeping existing families together as a therapeutic objective is a treatment goal shared by both the family preservation model (see: Peterson, Kohrt, Shadoin & Authier, 1996) and the behavioral model of family therapy (see: Fantuzzo, 1990). In addition, therapists and counselors using both approaches often use at least some behavioral, cognitive-behavioral strategies and techniques (Pecora, Fraser & Haapala, 1992).
For example, in a study performed by Pecora, Fraser and Haapala (1992), which was conducted to evaluate an intensive home-based family preservation project providing services in Utah, the authors noted that the pretest-posttest case outcome data of 453 families who received intensive family preservation services in