Clinical assimilation of the various methods of family therapy, while maintaining an analytic, self-psychology perspective gave rise to Complementary Narcissism's novel system's perspective of the individual in context. While Complementary Narcissism Theory is applicable to all families, its interventions are most effective with those families who…

The author examines the three crises he feels family therapy has passed through in the last three decades, including the need to transcend its focus on schizophrenia and to deal with families differing widely in socioeconimic origin. The current challenge is the need for professionalization of the field. (Author)

Authors of "Strategic-Brief Therapy: An Insight-Oriented Approach?" reply to articles by Schwartz and by Slipp reviewing their original article, by clarifying their position and any misunderstandings that may arise from the reviews. The authors elaborate on their view of meaning construction and provide further explanation of case…

This paper offers a way of thinking about the process of parent-infant psychotherapy. I start by outlining some ideas as to what can go awry in troubled parent-infant relationships, and then a way of working with parents with pre-verbal babies. I suggest a model for understanding three interlaced levels at which change might occur if a…

Defines contextual therapy as therapeutic synthesis of family (relational), biological, and individual (psychotherapy) methodologies. Translates the ethics of "relational responsibility" into intervention methods and strategies. Explores consequences of the therapies as a common denominator for the three philosophies. (Author/ABB)

Relates the experiences of a social worker in private practice who offered house calls as an ongoing setting for counseling and psychotherapy to individuals and families. Describes advantages and disadvantages, liability, and target populations. (JAC)

Taking a meta-theoretical perspective, this article presents a critical analytical model through which human knowledge, existence, and behaviour can be understood. The article describes the meta-theoretical model and then explains how this model applies to the evolution of seminal family therapy theories.

This article presents an interview with Al Pesso and Diane Boyden, founders of Pesso Boyden System Psychomotor (PBSP), or psychomotor psychotherapy. This system of psychotherapy incorporates the body and movement in to a process of individualized "structures" that have implication for marriage and family therapists. (GCP)

Interview with Michael F. Hoyt, a noted figure in the worlds of brief therapy and managed care. He discusses issues regarding brief therapy, some of the promises and problems of managed care, and several likely future trends and their implications for marital and family therapists. (MKA)

Responds to C. Aaron McNeese's (1995) article, "Family Social Work Practice: From Therapy to Policy." It encompasses the long-standing debate in social work over micro- and macro-level approaches to problem solving, commonly referred to as the "cause-function" debate. The struggle to minimize adverse effects of diversity has…

Family systems theory's contribution to the world of psychotherapy was its move away from lineal causality toward a view of human relationships as not merely multi-determined, but unavoidably and inextricably inter-related and inter-dependent. Circular causation allows the therapist to assume enormous flexibility. The rise of family therapy in…

Presents field of brief individual psychotherapy as coherent set of conventions, despite its diverse origins in schools of dynamic, behavioral, interpersonal or cognitive, and strategic psychotherapy. Proposes advantages and drawbacks of shared conventions and discusses how neighboring field could help field of family therapy reduce its errors.…

Describes how dialectic metatherapy may be used to integrate various dimensions of human development as they pertain to symptom formation and therapy. A dialectical conceptualization of therapy allows one to systematically organize individually and systematically oriented ideas. Points out the paradoxical nature of therapy and how to use this…

Neil Jacobson is a leader in research-based efforts to improve behavioral couples therapy. This interview focuses on his professional journey toward an integrative model, as well as his thoughts about the future directions of behavioral therapy and family counseling. The integrative-couples therapy model is described and discussed. (Author/EMK)

Proposes a critical constructionist approach to family services as a useful framework for family social work. Presents the foundations and basic ideas of critical constructionism, and applies these ideas to social work with families. (JPS)