Future Research First and foremost, the effects of father involvement on child development need to be better understood. –Fathers unique contributions among specific populations, and at individual stages of development are still in the early phases of research. –The roles of breadwinner, moral guide, sex role model, and nurturer are a good beginning point but these are defined by researchers. –Current research shows families should be the source of ongoing definitions of fathering.

Future Research Cont. Clinical Studies –Effects of Fathers Absence/ Presence on therapy –Parental Dynamic in Therapy (two instead of one better?) –Is Dad Being there really better? –Does the order and timing of parental involvement matter? –What about the Gender of the therapist and likelihood to involve dad?

Future Research Cont. In Ideal Therapy/ Research Land A systematic study of family configurations and how they interact with differing therapists and therapists techniques would provide needed insight and clinical direction for therapists working with families. Demographic info for all family members and therapists involved in a double blind study based on observational measures comparing those therapists who work to incorporate parents into their children’s therapy with those who don’t as a control group.

Future Research Cont. Presenting Problem-Once more is know about the influence of father involvement research correlating the effects of this involvement with specific clinical problems needs to be done. This research should be specific to: Age of Children Nature of Parents’ Relationship