An Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy

by Joseph L. Wetchler (Editor), Lorna L. Hecker (Editor)

Now in its second edition, this text introduces readers to the rich history and practice of Marriage and Family Therapy, with 32 professionals from across the US presenting their knowledge in their areas of expertise. This blend of approaches and styles gives this text a unique voice and makes it a comprehensive resource for graduate students taking their first course in Marriage and Family Therapy.

The book is divided into three sections:

Part 1 focuses on the components on which 21st century family therapy is based and summarizes the most recent changes made to not only therapeutic interventions, but to the very concept of "family."


Part 2 presents an overview of the 7 major theoretical models of the field: structural, strategic, Milan, social constructionist, experiential, transgenerational, and cognitive-behavioral family therapy. Each chapter in this section
Focuses on the founder of the theory, its theoretical tenants, and its key techniques
Shows how the model focuses on diversity
Presents the research that supports the approach


Part 3 addresses specific treatment areas that are common to marriage and family therapists, such as sex therapy, pre-marital therapy, research, and ethics and legal issues.

As an introduction to the field of Marriage and Family Therapy, this volume stands above the rest. Not only will readers gain an understanding of the rich history of the field and its techniques, but they will also see a complete picture of the context in which families are embedded, such as gender, culture, spirituality, and sexual orientation. This knowledge is the key to understanding what differentiates Marriage and Family Therapy from individual psychotherapy. Glossaries, case studies, tables, figures, and appendices appear generously throughout the text to present this information and give students a thorough overview to prepare them for their professional lives.
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Genres: Textbooks, Counselling

614 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 18, 2003

Reviews

[Kristina Bartholomew · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read chapters 1-10 and they were all right for my course. I did really like learning more about narrative and CBT in terms of family therapy. I think oftentimes I just got lost in the words. Sometimes concepts were not as straightforward as I’d liked them to be but videos on the theories helped.

[Halley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty decent guide to the different kinds of modalities. I prefer Family Therapy: Concepts and Methods over this but it has a good base and a lot of good content.

[Melissa Lee-Tammeus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thorough, but cumbersome as heck. Broken down into doable sections and it certainly show the wear and tear of referring to it time and time again. I expect to be using this book a lot in the future.