Family Therapy: Concepts and Methods [Hardcover]

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

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 1997 | ISBN-10: 0205269834 | ISBN-13: 978-0205269839 | Edition: 4th

The Standard Reference On Family Therapy -- Revised And Updated!
-- Well-written, comprehensive with in-depth coverage of theories and clinical
-- Contributions by leading family therapists with information on their latest
-- Events in the development of family therapy are placed in the context of wider

With the rise of managed care's influence and the ever-growing importance of research, family therapists need in-depth coverage of both theories and clinical techniques. Some states use this book as a required book to use in preparation of the licensing exam. Written by well-known authors who speak continuously at state and antional meetings all over the country, previous editions of this book have been considered the standard reference work, and this new edition is no exception.

With contributions from leading family therapists this new edition includes up-to-date coverage of current approaches to family therapy. Topics include: the foundations and evolution of family therapy; fundamental concepts; classic schools of family therapy; current developments, and more.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Major strengths of this book  include: the chapters are well organized, well written and comprehensive; the examples are outstanding, relevant and timely; the text is extremely "teachable". I enjoyed reading this truly outstanding text and plan to adopt it as a required text for my course."
–Stephen Brannen, Southwest Missouri State University

"We use the current edition of  Nichols/Schwartz Family Therapy in all sections of graduate Family Practice, because it is comprehensive; student friendly; and well balanced between  theory and practice content. The authors filter in the differences and uniqueness of family therapy versus other forms of treatment with individuals and groups. We plan to adopt the new edition when it's ready."
–Maria Napoli, Arizona State University

"The writing style is excellent, much better than the book I'm currently using. I especially like part two of the book, where the format allows students to  compare and contrast the various schools of therapy. It also has excellent coverage of the use of assessment of families,  as well as the ethics involved in treating families, in particular the limits of confidentiality when working with multiple members of a family. I will definitely consider adopting this for my course."
–Marilyn Paavola, University of Tennessee. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

Key Benefit: With the rise of managed care's influence and the ever-growing importance of research, family therapists need in-depth coverage of both theories and clinical techniques. Some states use this book as a required book to use in preparation of the licensing exam. Written by well-known authors who speak continuously at state and antional meetings all over the country, previous editions of this book have been considered the standard reference work, and this new edition is no exception. Key Topics: With contributions from leading family therapists this new edition includes up-to-date coverage of current approaches to family therapy. Topics include: the foundations and evolution of family therapy; fundamental concepts; classic schools of family therapy; current developments, and more. Market: An ideal reference for new and practicing therpaists, social workers, and psychologists. A must have for all family therapists.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 586 pages
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon; 4th edition (July 28, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0205269834
• ISBN-13: 978-0205269839
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #674,441 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Strong and Well Constructed Text, September 28, 2000

By 

Hugh Crethar (Stillwater, OK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Family Therapy: Concepts and Methods (Hardcover)

As an instructor in Family Systems, I feel that Nichols & Schwartz have put together a very comprehensive overview of Family Therapy. Although at times it is somewhat tedious, the historical approach taken in this book allows a student or scholar the opportunity to piece together the different ways that family therapy is seen. I feel that the section on Cognitive-Behavioral Family Therapy did demonstrate a certain level of author bias, but this is understandable, given the authors backgrounds. Finally, there does seem to be some misunderstanding of individual approaches and a need for more multicultural issues to be included. Overall, this is a strong text to introduce a student to the field of Family Therapy.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Very Comprehensive and Thoughtful Text on Family Therapy, August 24, 2002

By 

Deborah Khoshaba "Dr. Deborah" (Newport Beach, Ca.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Family Therapy: Concepts and Methods (5th Edition) (Hardcover)

I have tried several books on family therapy as texts for my graduate course on Family and Couple therapy. This book is superior to other books that I have tried. The authors explain theoretical positions clearly and most importantly organize this vast area of social science into a well-organized discussion that is interesting and easy to follow. It is a serious text rather than convoluted and I'm thankful a text such as this for my students. Dr. Deborah Khoshaba

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Useful Book, June 20, 2006

By 

Mara - See all my reviews

This review is from: Family Therapy: Concepts and Methods, Sixth Edition (Hardcover)

I purchased this book for a graduate level course in family therapy. I found it very helpful in explaining the important theories of family therapy. It also highlights therapeutic techniques and provides vignettes of how the theory might apply in a real life situation. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a basic theoretical background in family therapy.