Main description:

Readable and concise yet immensely informative, this bestselling text prepares students and new therapists to work confidently and effectively in real-world clinical practice with families. The authors offer wise and compassionate guidance on everything from intake and assessment to treatment planning, the nuts and bolts of specific interventions, the nuances of establishing therapeutic relationships, and how to troubleshoot when treatment gets "stuck." They help the novice clinician navigate typical dilemmas and concerns, and spell out the basics of therapist self-care. Vivid case examples, sample forms, and quick-reference tables enhance the utility of the text. New to This Edition: Updated throughout to reflect current clinical findings and practices. Many new or revised case examples. Now more integrative-shows how to flexibly draw on multiple theories and techniques. New topics, including "Dealing with Clients We Dislike."

Contents:

Sprenkle, Foreword. The Beginning Family Therapist: Taking On the Challenge. Before the Initial Interview. The Initial Interview. Guidelines for Conducting Assessment. Developing a Treatment Focus. Basic Treatment Skills and Interventions. Working with Families and Children. Working with Couples. When a Family Member has a Mental Illness. Getting Unstuck in Therapy. Termination. Family Therapy in the Future: Pertinent Issues for Beginning Clinicians.