The article suggests that counselors can motivate families to change their behavior, prevent development of problems, and eliminate maladaptive behavior. They can help an abusing family to enhance interpersonal relationships, make work adjustments, increase personal effectiveness, enhance behavioral health, and promote mental health. Counselors are more effective guides for maltreating and substance-abusing families when the counselors are able to master their own presuppositions and clinical biases. The article further suggests that family therapy and family-based psychoeducational programs are effective treatment strategies with maltreating and substance-abusing families. The "I Must Parent According to Christian or Cultural Teachings" (IMPACT) program is an example of a family therapy-based intervention program designed to reduce child maltreatment and enhance family functioning. The article describes the program's theory and application. Table, references