Family Counseling Law & Legal Definition
Family counseling generally involves the use of third party intervention to assist in resolving conflicts between family members. Under state and local laws, which vary by area, it may be ordered as part of a sentence for a criminal offense. For example, counselors may focus on the family's needs as they relate to a child, and address the child's mental health needs. The purpose of these services is to improve or maintain the child's emotional or behavioral functioning. Counselors may work with both parents and children on solving problems that might otherwise lead to the out-of-home placement of a child.
The specific objectives of treatment are often to immediately stabilize, then improve, individual/marital/family functioning so as to reduce the risk of juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, emotional disorders, child abuse, neglect or exploitation.
Legal Definitions
Search Definitions
Get a Term Defined
- Request a legal definition! Submit a term you need defined.
- » Request Legal Definition
Submit a Definition
- Submit a Definition Help us build our database. Free listings for attorneys.
- » Submit a Definition
Help Build USLegal
- Join our Team and help build USLegal. Many opportunities for participation so Join our Network.
Build USLegal
Read a Law Digest
- Need to read the law or find an answer to a legal question? Visit our Law Digest for the largest selection of law digests and answers available.
Go to Law Digest
Form Packages
- Select from our most popular legal form packages.
- » Bankruptcy
- » Contract for Deed
- » Divorce
- » Employment Packages
- » Home Sales
- » Incorporation
- » LLC Formation
- » Landlord Tenant
- » Mutual Wills
- » Name Change
- » Personal Planning
- » Partnerships
- » View All Packages
Legal Life
- Organize your legal life today! View our free online guide to creating a Life Documents File and related products.
- » Life Documents File
- » Personal Planning Package
- » Life Documents Packages
- » New Parents
- » Newlyweds
- » Baby Boomers
- » Military
- » Other
Form Drafting
- Can′t find the form you need, or need a form we offer revised for your situation? Submit your request and our attorneys will review the request and let you know if the form can be provided.
Submit a drafting request...
