Basic Family Therapy

The challenge facing the authors of texts that address the multiplicity and complexity of problems that may afflict families can be intimidating. Philip Barker has addressed this challenge head-on in each of the editions of this book. This task has been greatly facilitated by the contributions of the new co-author, Jeff Chang, and in this edition provides a clear, easily read and readily understandable introduction to family therapy. Much has happened in the field of family therapy since the fifth edition of Basic Family Therapy was published in 2007. New developments covered.

A missing parent or marital partner.

Basic Family Therapy; Contents; Foreword; Introduction; Chapter 1 The Development of Family Therapy; Family therapy's early years; The 1960s; The 1970s; The 1980s; 1990s and the new millennium; Summary; References; Chapter 2 Healthy Families and Their Development; Ethnic variations; The functions of families; Family development; The clinical importance of family developmental stages; Optimal family functioning; Summary; References; Chapter 3 Some Basic Theoretical Concepts; Theories derived from individual and group psychotherapy; Psychodynamic theory; Group therapy.

Other theories that have been used in family therapyCybernetics; Systems theory; Learning theory; Communications theory; Other concepts and terms; From homeostasis to coherence; Our two brains and first- and second-order change; The 'new epistemology' and a second-ordercybernetic approach; Style versus method: common or model-specific factors?; Summary; References; Chapter 4 Adopting and Refining a Model of Family Therapy; The nature of theories and models; Models clarify the therapist's role; Models help us build on the pioneering ideas of others.

Models help us conduct treatment coherently and confidentlyDevelopin…