No abstract

Abusing and high-risk families have been seen over three years at a new treatment resource with a family therapy orientation. The families present with established resistance to any treatment intervention and many have defeated a succession of previous helping agencies. Initial typology and treatment strategies are described with the aim of more systematic selection of therapeutic techniques.

Intra-familial sexual abuse of children is a peculiarly potent area for subsequent inter-agency responses and interventions to become inappropriate, irrational, and damaging.A major component of the damaging responses by the inter-agency system is the mirroring processes which occur between that system and the family.A case example is presented in some detail to illustrate the ways in which such mirroring processes also effect therapeutic teams dealing with such families. Some therapeutic techniques from an experiential base are described. It is argued that productive therapeutic work can only occur if the mirroring processes within the inter-agency system, and the therapeutic team system, are considered systemically.

This paper explores computer-assisted self-interviewing (CASI) as a methodology for consulting with vulnerable children. The authors provide a brief review of the literature in this area, indicating that computer-mediated environments for self-administered questionnaires can be particularly helpful in enabling data to be obtained about sensitive subjects. A case example is provided of Viewpoint Interactive, a CASI application in use in the UK in local authority children's services, education, and in learning disability child care practice. The paper concludes that CASI as a methodology can assist with consultation, and that it may provide a useful additional tool in the complex process of moving beyond consultation alone to the development of increased and more effective participation for vulnerable children in the provision of their care.