Development of clinical approaches to psychological study of family

This article reviewed the development of clinical approaches to psychological study of family. Five relevant issues were discussed: Viewpoints, paradoxical approach, family system, school system, and prevention. First, epistemological bases for clinical family psychology were discussed. Then, some of paradoxical approaches in psychotherapy and family therapy were reviewed. An innovative approach to family system was introduced to exemplify the collaboration of clinical practitioners and basic researchers. Also, clinical approaches to school-system reform were reviewed in the context of systemic intervention. Finally, the future direction of clinical approaches in prevention research was suggested. It was also argued that complementary development of clinical and basic research in psychological study should attract much more attention of psychologists in every field.