IN AN ABUSIVE FAMILY, THE ADULT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO ABUSE, VIEWS THE CHILD AS SPECIAL OR DIFFERENT, AND RESORTS TO VIOLENCE BECAUSE OF A CRISIS. FAMILIES HAVE VARYING EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES AND REACT TO STRESS IN DIFFERENT WAYS. IN ADDITION, CERTAIN PARENTS TEND TO REACT TO STRESS WITH VIOLENT, ABUSIVE BEHAVIOR. THE SEESAW MODEL INCORPORATES THESE ELEMENTS AND PERMITS A CONCEPTUALIZATION OF THE POINTS AT WHICH INTERVENTION IS NEEDED TO RESTORE BALANCE TO THE FAMILY. CRISIS INTERVENTION TECHNIQUES TRY TO ALLEVIATE IMMEDIATE STRESS BY TEMPORARILY REMOVING A CHILD FROM THE HOME, COUNSELING BY PHONE ON A 24-HOUR BASIS, PROVIDING DAY CARE, OR PLACING CHILDREN IN FOSTER OR GROUP HOMES AS A LAST RESORT. CASE EXAMPLES OF CRISIS INTERVENTION ARE PRESENTED WHICH MAINTAIN THE FAMILY UNIT AND PREVENT FURTHER ABUSE. WHEN FAMILY DYSFUNCTION IS SEVERE, TREATMENT SERVICES ARE NEEDED TO IMPROVE RESOURCES FOR COPING WITH STRESS. MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING ON AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP BASIS CAN HELP THE PARENT TO BECOME STRONG EMOTIONALLY. ENVIRONMENT MANIPULATION SERVICES, SUCH AS CHILD CARE TRAINING AND FAMILY PLANNING, CAN MAKE THE FAMILY'S ENVIRONMENT MORE MANAGEABLE SO THAT A CRISIS IS NOT AS THREATENING. CASES USING THE TREATMENT APPROACH ARE DESCRIBED. LONG TERM TREATMENT OF A FAMILY REQUIRES ECLECTIC METHODS AND DEPENDS HEAVILY ON THE WORKER ESTABLISHING A MEANINGFUL, PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CLIENT. ALTHOUGH MANY ABUSIVE FAMILIES NEED TO MAKE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES IN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS, OTHERS REQUIRE HELP ONLY TO REDRESS A TEMPORARY IMBALANCE AND SHOULD NOT BE SATURATED WITH UNNECESSARY SERVICES. FOOTNOTES ARE PROVIDED.