Family context in pediatric psychology: A transactional perspective

Pediatric psychologists' treatment of children is often the treatment of families as well. Whether providing consultation to families under the stress of parenting a child with a chronic condition or providing direct services to children with psychosomatic complaints the family is often the most immediate and effective mediator of change and will be responsible for maintaining changes once the psychologist is no longer involved in treatment of the child. How pediatric psychologists think about families, what they consider the relation between the child's symptom and the family's functioning, and at what point the family is engaged in treatment directly influences the functioning of the pediatric psychologist. This paper is offered as a theoretical framework for understanding the family context in pediatric psychology. Hopefully, the model presented will enhance the pediatric psychologists treatment of children.