The pioneering authors of narrative therapy, White and Epston, state clearly that they have been influenced by the work of the French theorist Michel Foucault. This paper briefly outlines some features of narrative therapy, examines the Foucauldian themes in White and Epston's theory, and explores narrative therapy's poststructuralist challenge to…

This chapter addresses questions about the utility of family work as a separate discipline distinct from other helping professions. Empirical evidence is presented that supports the effectiveness of family involvement in treating childhood and school problems, psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, physical health problems,…

Describes the necessity of including siblings in the treatment of victims of child sexual abuse. Theoretical and practical reasons to include siblings in treatment are discussed. Case examples using a particular intervention approach and results of client satisfaction surveys are described. (Contains 18 references.) (GCP)

This chapter discusses the development of an approach to counseling that allows counselors to incorporate family counseling into their individual counseling practices. The six-stage counseling process that is presented draws upon a broad-based behavior therapy/social learning theory approach. The stages of this process are identified as: establish…

This paper summarizes Iveys Developmental Counseling and Therapy theory and includes practical applications of theory, discusses the general concepts of family counseling theories and the family systems continuum, summarizes the central theoretical constructs and goals and practical therapeutic techniques of Systemic Cognitive-Developmental…

Reviews 15 years of clinical research in three family therapy (FT) journals that provide evidence for the effectiveness of marriage and family therapy. Considers designs that are being utilized in reports on the effectiveness of various models of FT. Makes connections between research and the everyday work of clinicians to make the work more…

Argues that there is significant disjunction between the way that families live their lives and the way that professionals theorize about families. Using the metaphor of positive and negative spaces, argues that there are many negative spaces in our theorizing--everyday family activities that take up considerable time, energy, and attention but…

Expanding the treatment system from the individual to the couple or family carries with it some unique challenges and fundamental clinical dilemmas for the marital and family therapist. Marital and couple therapy is explored with a focus on the dilemmas that dyadic relationships bring to the treatment context. The couples central relationship…

Just as counseling approaches designed for individuals have their theory-specific techniques, family counseling approaches also have theory-specific interventions and strategies. Whatever presenting problem the family brings to counseling, one or more of four essential components (communication, problem solving, roles and boundaries) is typically…

Proposes a new model for psychological practice called Family Consulting, which is based on a developmental and non-pathological perspective. Provides background information on the building blocks of this perspective, namely the life span theory of development, family life-cycle literature, and object relations family therapy. Discusses the role…

Discusses the advances made in understanding the intrapersonal, interpersonal, familial, and contextual characteristics and processes that contribute to adaptive as well as maladaptive outcomes with high-risk and clinically referred adolescents. Reviews research in areas that are central to clinical work with adolescents and offers examples of how…

Explores family therapy theory as it relates to the training of novice family counselors. Recent advances in the field have complicated the decision regarding what theories should be taught in introductory courses. Questions are posed concerning whether the traditional theories should be taught as they were originally conceptualized or whether…

Counselors whose specialty is marriage and family counseling develop a theoretical and research base and acquire countless hours of experience upon which to base their interventions. Most counselors and other helping professionals whose specialty is in another area do as well as they can lacking specific theoretical concepts and experience from…

Multisystemic Therapy (MST) is a well-validated, evidenced-based treatment for serious clinical problems presented by adolescents and their families. This article is an introduction to the MST approach and outlines key clinical features, describes the theoretical underpinnings, and discusses the empirical support for MST's effectiveness with a…

Responds to calls from feminist scholars to address potential biases against women in theories of family therapy. Summarizes findings from studies of female development and integrates findings into expanded model of Bowen's family systems theory. Includes case example comparing expanded model with traditional application of Bowen's theory.…