Calgary family assessment model : how to apply in clinical practice

Summary: The co-developers of the Calgary Family Assessment Model (CFAM), Drs. Lorraine M. Wright and Maureen Leahey demonstrate the Calgary Family Assessment Model (CFAM) in clinical practice. Highlighting the structural, developmental, and functional categories of CFAM in clinical interviews, they present examples of specific questions the nurse can ask the family, illustrate the helpfulness of the genogram and ecomap, and demonstrate how to construct circular interactional diagrams in clinical settings. CFAM was initially an adaptation of an integrated and conceptual framework originally developed by Dr. Karl Tomm and colleagues at the Family Therapy Program, University of Calgary. Wright and Leahey adapted the original framework specifically for nurses to use when assessing families and named it the Calgary Family Assessment Model.