Covid-19 Research

Brief Report

Joint Parent-child Therapy for Children in Vulnerable Families

Journal of Biomedical Research & Environmental Sciences article abstract with citation details, DOI, publication dates, subject areas, full text links, and references.

Article Details

Publication record, authors, dates, abstract, and full text access.

Open Access
Article Type Brief Report
Subject Medicine Group
OCLC JBRES Record
R Don Tustin*
Issue: Volume7-Issue6
Pages: 1-6
Received: 2026-06-16
Accepted: 2026-06-23
Published: 2026-06-24

Abstract

Three inter-related topics have attracted renewed attention; early intervention therapy for vulnerable children, joint parent-child therapy for vulnerable children, and therapy for court-involved families. Commentators recognise that the three forms of therapy introduce complexities that do not arise when clinicians provide treatment to one client with a diagnosed condition, including ethical dilemmas. This article briefly reviews recent publications on joint parent-child therapy for families where children are vulnerable and identifies topics that require further research.

Certificate of Publication

Certificate of Publication

Copyright

© 2026 Tustin RD. Distributed under Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 Creative CommonsAttribution

How to cite this article

Tustin RD. Joint Parent-child Therapy for Children in Vulnerable Families. J Biomed Res Environ Sci. 2026 June 24; 7(6): 6. Doi: 10.37872/jbres2308

References

  1. Lok L, Tzioumi D. Mental health needs of children in out-of-home care. J Paediatr Child Health. 2015;51:7-8.
  2. Dubois-Comtois K, Bussières EL, Cyr C, St-Onge J, Baudry C, Milot T, et al. Are children and adolescents in foster care at greater risk of mental health problems than their counterparts? A meta-analysis. Child Youth Serv Rev. 2021;127:106100.
  3. Stith S, Liu T, Davies C, Boykin E, Alder M, Harris JM, et al. Risk factors in child maltreatment: A meta-analytic review of the literature. Aggress Violent Behav. 2009;14:13-29.
  4. Kaspiew R, Gray M, Weston R, Moloney L, Hand K, Qu L, et al. Evaluation of the 2006 family law reforms. Melbourne (AU): Australian Institute of Family Studies; 2009.
  5. Carr A. Family therapy and systemic interventions for child-focused problems: The current evidence base. J Fam Ther. 2019;41:153-213.
  6. Carr A. Family therapy and systemic interventions for child-focused problems: The evidence base. J Fam Ther. 2025;47(1):e12476.
  7. Garber BD, Prescott D, Mulchay C. The family law professional's guide to high conflict litigation: Dynamics not diagnoses. Washington (DC): American Bar Association; 2022.
  8. Tustin D. Parent-child dynamics in vulnerable families. In: Tustin D, editor. Psycho-legal concepts for parenting in child custody and child protection. Vol. 4. Cham (CH): Springer; 2024. p. 103-150.
  9. Tustin D. Parenting practices associated with specific parental mental illnesses. In: Tustin D, editor. Psycho-legal concepts for parenting in child custody and child protection. Vol. 4. Cham (CH): Springer; 2024. p. 69-102.
  10. Tustin RD. Review of studies regarding assessment of families where children are at risk of harm due to parental substance misuse. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025;22(4):612.
  11. Zumbach J, Brubacher SP, Davis F, de Ruiter C, Ireland JL, McNamara K, et al. International perspective on guidelines and policies for child custody and child maltreatment risk evaluations: A preliminary comparative analysis across selected countries in Europe and North America. Front Psychol. 2022;13:900058.
  12. Greenberg LR, Doi Fick L, Schider R. Keeping the developmental frame: Child-centred co-joint therapy. J Child Custody. 2012;9(1-2):39-68.
  13. Greenberg LR, Fidler BJ, Saini MA. Evidence-informed interventions for court-involved families. New York (NY): Oxford University Press; 2019.
  14. Tustin D. Parent-child systemic therapy for court-involved children with behavioral disturbances: A clinician's perspective. Encyclopedia. 2026;6(5):112.
  15. Baidawi S, Sheehan R. 'Cross-over kids': Effective responses to children and young people in the youth justice and statutory child protection systems. Canberra (AU): Australian Institute of Criminology; 2019. Report to the Criminology Research Advisory Council.
  16. Baidawi S, Ball R. Child protection and youth offending: Differences in youth criminal court-involved children by dual system involvement. Child Youth Serv Rev. 2023;145:106736.
  17. Macvean M, Mildon R, Shlonsky A, Devine B, Falkiner J, Trajanovska M, et al. Evidence review: An analysis of the evidence for parenting interventions for parents of vulnerable children aged up to six years. Melbourne (AU): Parenting Research Centre; 2013.
  18. Macvean M, Sartore G, Mildon R, Shlonsky A, Majika C, Albers B, et al. Effective Intensive Family Services Review. Melbourne (AU): Parenting Research Centre and The University of Melbourne; 2015.
  19. Wade C, Macvean M, Falkiner J, Devine B, Mildon R. Evidence review: An analysis of the evidence for parenting interventions for parents of vulnerable children aged up to six years. Melbourne (AU): Parenting Research Centre; 2012.
  20. Tustin D. Psycho-legal concepts for parenting in child custody and child protection. Vols. 1-4. Cham (CH): Springer; 2024.
  21. Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. Guidelines for Court-Involved Therapy. Madison (WI): Association of Family and Conciliation Courts; 2010.
  22. Greenberg LR, Gould JW. The treating expert: A hybrid role with firm boundaries. Prof Psychol Res Pract. 2001;32(5):469-478.
Publish with JBRES — Peer-reviewed, multidisciplinary Open Access with rapid review, DOI, and global visibility.
Double-Blind CrossRef DOI Discoverable