ABSTRACT

The ecological viewpoint represents a great advance over prior models for conceptualizing social institutions, such as the family. Because this approach is holistic and non-reductionistic, socially sensitive counseling and other forms of intervention are possible. Nonetheless, due to the close association between the ecological model and systems theory, structural metaphors are employed to describe social life. As a result, if the ecological model is adopted by an uncritical practitioner, society may be unduly reified. The analysis undertaken in this paper reveals both the benefits and shortcomings of the ecological mode of assessment and intervention.