Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The family in pediatric paractice, September 23, 2001
"Family-Focused Behavioral Pediatrics" by Dr. William L. Coleman brings a fresh perspective to the health care of children. Understanding the role of a family history and current living conditions has always been an important part of pediatric care. Dr. Coleman takes it a giant step further by proposing that pediatricians (and family physicians and nurse practitioners) can learn clinical techniques that enhance problem solving while shifting care from child-focused to family-focused interactions. The foundation of the book reflects a blending of pediatrics and family therapy. The author is quick to point out that there are at 5 different levels of participation in this new model of care depending on the clinician's experience and comfort level. Beginning with the biomedical model of care with minimal emphasis on the family, Dr. Coleman suggests that the next level is a family conference limited to a medical condition. Most clinical practices include these strategies. The next levels, in order of sophistication, are family meeting about medical problems and family communication/interactions, systematic family assessment with planned interventions, and family therapy. For each level of care, Dr. Coleman provides examples with clinical cases from his own practice that pediatric clinicians will recognize. In many case illustrations it becomes clear how a family-focused intervention enhances the quality of care. Practical strategies for interviewing a family are discussed in a manner that can be grasped quickly by pediatricians. The writing style is "pediatric-friendly" in that the author uses descriptions to define a concept rather than relying on psychological or family-systems terminology. I agree with the observations of Dr. Bart Schmitt who wrote in the forward that the application of the ideas in this book should bring to clinical practice the following attributes:
1. an increase comfort level with family disagreements and parent problems;
2. rediscovery of the power of words;
3. increased creativity in interventions;
4. improved ability to help families find and utilize their strengths;
5. doubled therapeutic impact; and
6. increased person job satisfaction. I have practiced pediatrics for 30 years and thought that I incorporated a family-focus in my care of children and families. The ideas and cases in this book gave me many new ideas in my approach to a variety of clinical problems. It is a book for all clinicians who work with children, adolescents and their families.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Practical Help for Common Family Interaction Pitfalls, September 24, 2001
Dr. Coleman's book, Family-Focused Behavioral Pediatrics,is a small book only in size. There is an incredible depth of information covered about interviewing families, actively listening to their words and the dynamics generating those words, helping the individuals to create their own solutions and feel an increased sense of accomplishment.Any professional interacting with families will find information immediately useful to their work as the book emphasizes using the resources within each family member as well as within the dynamics among the members to improve family functioning.
There is an excellent subject index in the back of the book making this book very "user friendly" for quick reference and many resources are provided for additional information and training.
Highly recommended for physicians, social workers, psychologists, educators, allied health professionals, attorneys, clergy, laypeople, or anyone else who is interested in ways to help families improve communication and begin creating solutions to family problems.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rejuvenate Your Practice, August 22, 2001
Outstanding! Dr. Coleman's handbook is a timely and comprehensive resource that anyone in family or pediatric care will be delighted to discover. This book helps the caregiver evaluate and manage behavioral and interactional problems from a family-oriented approach. The skills are easily learned with great examples and strategies, and can be applied in clinic the same day. After reading this book you will know how to identify problems suitable for family-oriented approach, conduct family meetings, help families cooperate and develop adaptive behaviors, deal with disappointments and difficult families, make mental health referrals, and code and document for reimbursement. Personally, the concepts and lessons in this book have revitalized my own vision of the practice of pediatrics.
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