International Family Therapy

The development of family therapy varies widely across the globe; contextual, historical, and cultural factors all affect the status quo as well as the future of family therapy. Overall, apart from the United States, family therapy is most well developed in Australia and some parts of Europe (e.g., the UK). In societies in which family therapy has a much shorter history, a significant and increasing demand for family therapy services has resulted in the recent rapid growth of the field in many countries. This entry examines the barriers that prevent people from accessing family therapy, as well as the development of family therapy, current trends in family therapy, and future issues in the field.