The Essentials of Family Therapy, 2nd Edition [Paperback]

Michael P. Nichols (Author), Richard C. Schwartz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 4, 2004 | ISBN-10: 0205408141 | ISBN-13: 978-0205408146 | Edition: 2nd

This second edition of The Essentials of Family Therapy examines the rich history, classic schools, and latest developments of family therapy while emphasizing clinical practice. Similar to another classic work from the same authors, titled Family Therapy: Concepts and Methods, Sixth Edition this volume contains up-to-date descriptions of the latest models; expanded coverage of basic clinical practice; new material on research, ethics, and diversity; and a thorough, consistent emphasis on clinical techniques throughout. The Essentials of Family Therapy contains less history and theory than its larger predecessor, and highlights the accomplishments and techniques of successful contemporaries in the field.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

One thing that tends to get lost in academic discussions of family therapy is the feeling of accomplishment that comes from sitting down with an unhappy family and being able to help them. Beginning therapists are understandably anxious about how to proceed and not sure they'll know how to be helpful. (“How do you get all of them to come in?”) Veterans often speak in abstractions. They have opinions and discuss big social issues — social constructionsim, postmodernism, managed care, second-order cybernetics. While it's tempting to use this space to say Important Things, I prefer to be a little more personal. Treating troubled families has given me the deepest satisfaction imaginable, and I hope that the same is, or will be, true for you.

In this first edition of The Essentials of Family Therapy we've tried to describe the full scope of family therapy — its rich history, the classical schools, the latest developments — but with more emphasis on clinical practice than history and theory. There are lots of changes in this version: more up-to-date descriptions of the latest models, an expanded treatment of basic clinical practice, a richer description of the contemporary influences on the field, and a more thorough and consistent emphasis on clinical techniques throughout.

When you read about therapy it can be hard to see past the jargon and political packaging to the essential ideas and practices. So, in preparing this volume, we've traveled widely to visit and observe the actual sessions of the leading practitioners. The result is a more pragmatic, clinical focus. We hope you like it.

So many people have contributed to my development as a family therapist and to the writing of this book that it's impossible to thank them all. But I would like to single out a few. To the people who taught me family therapy — Lyman Wynne, Murray Bowen, and Salvador Minuchin — thank you.

Some of the people who went out of their way to help us prepare this book were Jay Efran, Stephanie Fellenberg, Frank Dattilio, Robert Taibbi, JoEllen Patterson, Joseph Miccuci, Paul Nichols, Insoo Berg, Cheryl Rampage, Kathy Weingarten, Vicki Dickerson, Jeff Zimmerman, Cloe Madanes, Jay Haley, and Salvador Minuchin. To paraphrase John, Paul, George, and Ringo, we get by with a lot of help from our friends — and we thank them all and one.

We are especially grateful to Janice Wiggins, Judy Fifer, and Susan McIntyre at Allyn and Bacon for making a hard job easier.

Finally, I would like to thank my postgraduate instructors in family life: my wife, Melody, and my children, Sandy and Paul. In the brief span of thirty-three Melody has seen me grow from a shy young man, totally ignorant of how to be a husband and father, to a shy middle-aged man, still bewildered and still trying. Sandy and Paul never cease to amaze me. My little red-haired girl (who can bench press like a football player) is about to return to the States after two and a half years of service in the Peace Corps. Proud of her? You bet I am! And my son Paul, to whom (masculine reticence being what it is) maybe I haven't always shown the depth of my love, has grown to young manhood true to himself, true to his friends, and true to his mother and me. If in my wildest dreams I had imagined children to love and be proud of, I wouldn't even have come close to any as fine as Sandy and Paul.

Michael P. Nichols
Williamsburg, Virginia --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

This second edition of The Essentials of Family Therapy examines the rich history, classic schools, and latest developments of family therapy while emphasizing clinical practice. This text is designed for students of Family Therapy, Practice with Children and Families, and Marriage and Family Counseling in Counseling and Psychology programs, as well as for therapists in practice.

In comparison with the classic work from these authors, titled Family Therapy: Concepts and Methods, this volume contains more up-to-date descriptions of the latest models, an expanded treatment of basic clinical practice, new material on research, ethics, and diversity, and a thorough, consistent emphasis on clinical techniques throughout. The Essentials of Family Therapy contains less abstract theory than its larger predecessor, and highlights the accomplishments and techniques of successful contemporaries in the field.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pearson Education, Inc. / Allyn & Bacon; 2nd edition (February 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0205408141
• ISBN-13: 978-0205408146
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #611,332 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Intro. To Family Therapy., December 6, 2002

By 

Rocco B. Rubino "Rocco R." (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Essentials of Family Therapy (Paperback)

I am currently taking a Family Therapy course and I mistakenly bought this book. After buying the required text and examining the two, I decided that this one was a "keeper."

The authors are practioners in the field who have accumulated years of wisdom and knowledge about how the family functions. They do an excellent job of presenting the major treatment paradigms, without injecting their own biases into the explanation. I found this book to be immensely readable, and easy to digest and apply. I have been using this book more than the required text for the simple reason that it is very well organized, the theoretical presentations well thought out, and the writing style is warm and engaging.

I definately recommend this book. No way I will resell this one.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Resource, January 15, 2007

By 

Eva Peterson - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essentials of Family Therapy (3rd Edition) (Paperback)

This is one of the best textbooks I have encountered for the beginning family therapist. It offers great theoretical explanation with helpful application to everyday practice. I would recommend it to anyone!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The title accurately describes the text!, April 10, 2006

By 

M. Carter (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Essentials of Family Therapy, 2nd Edition (Paperback)

This is a clear, concise and informative text that outlines the fundementals of family therapy. The title accurately describes the text. A must for those who are entering into family therapy!