Abstract Great attention has traditionally been paid to the problems of engagement in family therapy, and to initial moves by the therapist to establish a contract and clearly define the working relationship and goals. Additionally, the early tasks of assessing the areas of family difficulty and of grasping the family dynamics are usually given prominent attention. The course of therapy during that “middle phase” has too often been neglected; yet, it can be one of turbulence, of confusion, and of abrupt discontinuations, or circular redundancies. In the conference reported here, Dr. Carlos Sluzki gives a broad view of that hazardous terrain, and with theoretical and clinical clarity shares the long experience of a noted theoretician and teacher with others who also travel on that therapeutic journey. The conference chairpersons, George J. Meyer and Robert Scherb have also provided us with succinct and interesting summaries of the seven workshops which followed Dr. Sluzki's presentation.