From initial client intake to the nuts-and-bolts of the interview, assessment, diagnosis, goal setting, treatment planning, intervention techniques, troubleshooting, and termination, the book translates current research findings into cogent recommendations for practice.

Full Description:   

An ideal clinical resource and text, this volume provides students and new therapists with the basic skills and tools necessary to become empathic, confident, and successful practitioners in today's rapidly changing field of family therapy. Easing the transition from academic expertise to therapeutic competence, chapters take readers step by step through the entire therapy process. From initial client intake to the nuts-and-bolts of the interview, assessment, diagnosis, goal setting, treatment planning, intervention techniques, troubleshooting, and termination, the book translates current research findings into cogent recommendations for practice. Numerous case examples and sample treatment plans, forms, and questionnaires complement the text. Special sections on getting started, gaining self-confidence, diagnosing DSM-IV disorders, and understanding managed care offer practical guidance for entering the field. Going beyond the traditional boundaries of family therapy, the book also details selected clinical skills--such as assessing for suicide risk and substance abuse, and gaining a knowledge base in medication management and the ability to consult with physicians--that are particularly relevant for all mental health practitioners today.

1. The Beginning Family Therapist: Taking on the Challenge
2. Before the Intitial Interview
3. The Initial Interview
4. Guidelines for Conducting Assessment
5. Developing a Treatment Focus
6. Basic Treatment Skills
7. Working with Families and Children
8. Working with Couples
9. When a Family Member Has a Mental Illness
10. Getting Unstuck in Therapy
11. Termination
12. Family Therapy in the Future: Pertinent Issues for Beginning Clinicians

"This is a valuable and welcome text for the beginning family therapist and for students preparing for careers in the field. I was impressed by the wide array of coverage and the clear and practical way in which the material is presented. The authors, all skilled therapists and trainers, combine their knowledge and expertise to provide a guide which I will look forward to using in my classes....As a trainer and supervisor, I am grateful to these four authors."
-Marcia Lasswell, MA, University of Southern California

240 pages hardbound

In-Stock-Orders received before 4pm EST will be shipped the same business day!