Family therapy is a type of psychotherapy that involves all members of a nuclear family or stepfamily, and, in some cases, members of the extended family (e.g., grandparents). A licensed therapist conducts multiple sessions to help families deal with important issues that may interfere with the functioning of the family and the home environment.

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The goal of family therapy is to help family members improve communication, solve family problems, understand and handle special family situations, for example, death, serious physical or mental illness, or child and adolescent issues, and create a better functioning home environment.

Family therapy is based on family systems theory, in which the family is viewed as a living organism rather than just the sum of its individual members. Family therapy uses systems theory to evaluate family members in terms of their position or role within the system as a whole. Problems are treated by changing the way the system works rather than trying to fix a specific member. Family systems theory is based on several major concepts.