In family therapy, there is no assumption of a sick or problematic “patient”. Rather, the family is seen as a system which is not functioning optimally. Changes in communication patterns are necessary to improve overall family functioning. Dr. King uses techniques that enable individuals to express their feelings, listens appropriately to the others, and respects the wishes and concerns of all family members. Problem-solving strategies are used to move the focus away from the child alone and toward the family as a system capable of healing itself.
Like all therapy, the process is rarely smooth, and a major part of the work is helping the family deal with issues that occur while in the therapy session. Dr. King supports each family member's attempts at self-expression, protects members from verbal abuse, helps individuals hear and understand what is being said, encourages them to see problems through the eyes of each family member, and then helps them solve problems together.