Salvador Minuchin was one of the "giants" who founded family therapy back in the 50's.  He saw the family as a system with a structure which tended to be self-maintaining under changing internal and external conditions.  According to Minuchin, some family systems are dysfunctional in that they produce and perpetuate suffering on the part of the members of the family.  His 
solution is to change the family system in order to restore well-functioning through the encouragement of certain principles, such as hierarchy (parents in 
charge), boundaries (a balance of locus of control between self and others), 
avoidance of scapegoating individual family members, avoidance of triangles, 
and so on. 

Minuchin is still very active in family therapy.  In the latest issue of the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy (1998), he has the opening essay, a discussion of narrative family therapy.  It is replied to by Combs and Freedman, Tomm, and Sluzki. 

In his essay, Munuchin credits Narrative Family Therapy (NFT) with the ideas of exploring alternative meanings within the family, therapist as collaborator, and valuable new techniques.  He faults NFT for downplaying the expertise of the therapist in helping the family to heal and downplaying the importance of family 
interaction and family dynamics.  The replies of the commentators are very thoughtful. 

Worth looking at. 

Minuchin, S. (1998). Where is the family in narrative family therapy?  Journal of Marital and Family Therapy 24(4), 397-418. 

The essay is followed by commentary by: 

Gene Combs and Freedman, Tellings and retellings 

Karl Tomm. A question of perspective. 

Carlos Sluzki, In search of the lost family: A footnote to Minuchin's essay.