This is a practical, easy-to-use guide for pinpointing the strengths and limitations of troubled families. Holman discusses elements crucial to understanding a family--the family as a system, the family and its environment, and the family life cycle. She explains such tested methods for assessing family problems as ecomaps, genograms, family sculpture, the use of observation, and checklists, and shows how family assessment lays the groundwork for effective intervention planning. Helpful features include case studies, exercises, charts, and sample forms. "Excellent case vignettes are given to demonstrate the application of role and systems theory in family assessment. The use of ecomaps, genograms, and family sculptures for collecting subjective and objective data is also effectively presented. Another highlight of the book is the recognition of the impact of divorce and single-parenting on the developmental cycle of a family. A good supplementary text for teaching methods on intervention with families in th