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87th out of 411 books
—
429 voters
The Family Crucible
For all families considering therapy, this bestselling guide will provide a broad understanding of the family therapy experience. "Brings fresh insights to our understanding of family interactions."-- "Psychology Today" "Brings fresh insight to our understanding of family interactions, the forces that contribute to marital failure, and how family therapy can aid in revital...more
Paperback, 320 pages
Published
May 25th 1988
by William Morrow Paperbacks
(first published 1978)
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This book gives a compilation of various family therapy experiences condensed into the drama of one hypothetical family, the Brices. The dialogue of their therapy sessions is realistic, at times humorous and heartbreaking all at once. I feel deep respect for the wisdom evident in the co-therapy team who is featured in this case. Both Dr. Napier and Whitaker teach viewpoints that can help anybody see life in a new perspective. The story would be inspiring to any casual reader, but especially mean...more
The author did a great job of taking a scholastic topic and illustrating it with artistic language and presenting it in such a way that is consumable by the average reader. I am a Psychology major so of course I loved the book: the insights into personal behavior and personality, the confounding effects of group interaction, and the well-placed intellectual side notes. It is well written and a fascinating read. If you take the time, I can almost guarantee that you will learn something about your...more
A brilliant anecdote of Carl Whitaker's work, and a must read for any family therapist. It is powerful, captivating, and challenges the dominant societal narrative that views emotional people as weak or symptomatic.
For those reading this to get an idea of how family therapy is conducted, this only represents the work of one therapy model (Symbolic-Interaction/Experiential Therapy) of many. This is not how every therapist works, but it is a beautiful example of how family therapy can be successf...more
For those reading this to get an idea of how family therapy is conducted, this only represents the work of one therapy model (Symbolic-Interaction/Experiential Therapy) of many. This is not how every therapist works, but it is a beautiful example of how family therapy can be successf...more
I read this book when I was first discovering my love for being a family therapist and often refer clients to read it. It clearly explains the process of involving all family members in solving problems within a family. Common issues to all families like the use of power, attachment and personal growth are easy to read and apply. If you love looking at how relationships develop, change and cause stress you'll enjoy this read.
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Jan 05, 2008
Khaya
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone, therapist or layperson, who wants to learn about family therapy
Shelves:
professionallit
This book was excellent -- highly educational, but it read like a novel. It basically alternated between narrative passages about one family's journey through family therapy and didactic passages about the process of family therapy. The narrative passages were excellent -- dramatic, vivid, and interesting, and depicted a family with incredibly universal problems. You really wanted to know what was going to happen with this family -- exactly like a good novel. The didactic passages were enlighten...more
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This is an incredibly well-written book that takes you through the intimate process of therapy with one particular family, while explaining the co-therapists' intentions and interpretations at each stage. This was on the "suggested reading list" for my Theories of Family Therapy class. I'm so glad I took the suggestion to heart! This book opened my eyes to many systemic issues that are endemic to all families. I expect that it will stay with me for reference and re-reads throughout my career!
Had to read this for school. It turned out to be a pretty good book. It is a great example of experiential family therapy with a family. I was surprised how much I enjoyed since it was something for an assignment. For anyone interested in this subject matter whether you are studying to be a family therapist or are just curious, this is a great choice.
FABULOUS book! Had to read it for my Family Counseling class and fell in love with it. It reads like a novel and is a very interesting peek into the complex system of the family. Seriously, anyone who's interested in family dynamics, dysfunctional families, or families in general should read this book! I can't recommend it enough!
Read this for a Family Therapy class. Great read, it makes you realize that almost every family has issues, whether big or small. But all these issues need to be addressed and worked through to have a happy, healthy functioning family. The book takes you through real therapy sessions of this family.
A great book that reveals true family construction and all of the problems that come with it. Look deep for better understanding of how each family member is a unique cog in wheel that affects everyone else. This can add better insight to understanding yourself and your family.
A personal and Midwestern tale about family therapy theory and experience from the viewpoint of family therapy greats, Gus Napier and Carl Whitaker. This novel re-tells of a family crisis while blending in new systemic and family therapy concepts regarding change and growth.
Feb 19, 2009
Heather
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Therapists or wannabes therapists, people interested in how families work
Shelves:
social-work
Two family therapists take you through this work with a family while weaving theory in the mix. I read this in undergrad, but still pull it out and re-read for brush up on family theory/therapy pointers. I love to see how other therapists think.
The descriptions of the family sessions and therapy through the eyes of the therapists was interesting. The history of therapy and the discussions of theory were not. I'm glad I read it, but I would only recommend it to those who have some connection to family therapy or family therapists.
I really enjoyed this book's approach to illustrating the co-therapist approach to family therapy and the family systems method of interpreting and helping families who seek the help of therapists. It follows one actual family's course of therapy. Chapters alternate sessions with the family and the therapists' thoughts/analysis of the session. They describe what their view of what was going on with the family both in the session and in a longer-term view, as well as their own internal experience...more
This is an excellent case study that starts off reading like a completely normal, upper middle class suburban white family with plenty of money to spend on therapy only to find out that family therapy was expertly used to get at some very complicated dynamics that appear very normal and average.
Husband and wife don't have sex and barely know each other, husband works too hard, wife is bored, teenagers are talking back and sneaking out. Seemed like the life they chose to me. But, it wasn't the l...more
Husband and wife don't have sex and barely know each other, husband works too hard, wife is bored, teenagers are talking back and sneaking out. Seemed like the life they chose to me. But, it wasn't the l...more
This was one of the most helpful and interesting books on family therapy I've ever read. What makes it so good is that it gives you direct access to the dialogue of two expert therapists within a session, so you can see the application of family systems in practice instead of just in theory. I wish there were more counseling books like this. The authors practice an experiential approach that can be out there at times, like when Carl Whitaker wrestles with a teenager during a session, but I was i...more
I thoroughly believe in the family scapegoat theory.
And pity the parents who do not recognize what their
selfish actions do to their children.
And pity the parents who do not recognize what their
selfish actions do to their children.
Insightful story of dysfunctional family dynamic and how difficulties and problems are everyone's responsibility. Great learning book!
One of the best books on how to conduct family/marital therapy. Reads more like a novel than a textbook.
This book was extremely helpful to me in understanding my own family system.
Jul 27, 2011
Libby
added it
I enjoyed reading this book and it was very insightful about fmily therapy
Great extended clinical example of Whitaker's style of family therapy.
This was written in the 70's so some of it is a little out dated.
An assigned reading that was not like reading a textbook. Dated, but interesting.
May 18, 2010
Catherine
added it
Kind of boring... had to read it for class.
Read it for school, and it was very helpful.
in high school psychology
family therapy best
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“By marrying to soon, many individuals sacrifice their chance to struggle through this purgatory of solitude and search toward a greater sense of self-confidence. They glance at the world outside the family and with hardly a second thought grasp anxiously for a partner. In marriage they seek a substitute for the security of the family of origin and an escape from aloneness. What they do not realize is that moving so quickly from one family to another, they make it easy to transfer to the new marriage all their difficult experiences in the family of origin. ”
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19 people liked it
“Marriage is going to be that happy state in which we get all of the nurturance and care and love and empathy and even good advice that we didn't receive from our families.”
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5 people liked it
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