Metaframeworks: Transcending the Models of Family Therapy (Jossey Bass Social and Behavioral Science Series) [Hardcover]

Douglas C. Breunlin (Author), Richard C. Schwartz (Author), Betty Mac Kune-Karrer (Author)

Book Description

Series: Jossey Bass Social and Behavioral Science Series | Publication Date: March 31, 1992

Family therapists have traditionally been divided among conflicting schools of theoretical allegiance. Yet, increasingly, practitioners are finding that any one approach to family therapy is limited in its efficacy. Rather than simply creating another school of therapy, Douglas Breunlin, Richard Schwartz, and Betty Mac Kune-Karrer have sought to go beyond the theoretical boundaries that currently constrain family therapy. In this book the authors offer a foundation for understanding the fundamental concepts that underlie all family therapy approaches--and they show how to apply these "metaframeworks" to an expanded understanding of human systems. Full of practical ideas, methods, and examples, Metaframeworks offers a wealth of guidelines for applying innovative strategies to a wide range of clinical problems and populations. In addition, this book provides an orientation to thinking about human systems at many levels, revealing a set of concepts with which to analyze the complexity of family life. By acknowledging and expanding upon the fundamental understandings of various family therapy approaches, the authors enable all practicing clinicians to improve the flexibility and comprehensiveness of their approaches--without having to abandon their training. Furthermore, the authors look beyond the boundaries of traditional family systems approaches, seeking to help therapists better understand the individual's internal thought processes. And they examine the influence of the social context on families, discussing in depth such factors as culture and gender.

Editorial Reviews

Review

?This book offers something really new. It not only distills much that is already known in other approaches, but also, having extracted the best parts, is able to recombine them into a perspective that integrates other areas often ignored. Metaframeworks is a unique book in the field.? (Contemporary Psychology)

?Those new to family therapy will find that this book offers a clear introduction to systems thinking and allows for comparison and contrast of existing models of family therapy across the dimensions represented by the six metaframeworks.? (Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From the Inside Flap

An Innovative Approach to Family TherapyFamily therapists have traditionally been divided among conflicting schools of theoretical allegiance. Yet practitioners are finding that any one approach to family therapy is limited in its efficacy. This breakthrough book goes beyond the theoretical boundaries that currently constrain family therapy, and leads to an innovative approach that integrates multiple models of treatment.In this newly revised edition, the authors offer an expanded and enriched foundation for understanding the fundamental concepts that underlie all family therapy approaches?and they show how to apply these "metaframeworks" to a broad understanding of human systems. Full of practical ideas, methods, and examples, Metaframeworks offers a wealth of guidelines for applying innovative strategies to a wide range of clinical problems and populations. This new edition refines the metaframeworks perspective by incorporating new trAnds in the field of family therapy.By acknowledging and expanding upon the fundamental understandings of various approaches to family therapy, the authors enable all practicing clinicians to improve the flexibility and comprehensiveness of their approaches?without having to abandon their training. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 414 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (March 31, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555424260
• ISBN-13: 978-1555424268
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #298,100 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It must be good, it "Transcends the Models of Family Therapy, November 15, 2002

By 

Sam Schaperow (CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Metaframeworks: Transcending the Models of Family Therapy (Jossey-Bass Social & Behavioral Science) (Paperback)

I'm surprised that this book has 0 customer reviews, so here's a review:

I see the aim of this book as to provide a structure for a therapist to combine various models of therapy into a workable therapy, rather than to either use a single model or to combine models in haphazard ways. That being the goal, it does a good job at achieving this by providing 6 core metaframeworks such as "Sequences", "Developmental", and the individual's own internal thought system, "Internal Family Systems".
This book works with factors from the individual to the society level, which is good because people are both individuals, family, and societal (a part of and influenced by society). Systems thinking is well-integrated into the book, as well as defined.
This metaframeworks book integrates four building blocks to help a therapist integrate models specific to their clients. The four building blocks are:
The systemic view, a set of presuppositions, the metaframeworks themselves, and the blueprint for therapy.

This book lacks much detail in how to do specific therapies, but that makes sense because it isn't a book of frameworks, but *metaframeworks*. It can integrate, to some degree, any model a person wishes to apply to it. If you're looking for a way to effectively combine family therapy models, look no further (are there even any books like this to look further at, anyway?). If you're looking for a new model to try, you might not find what you're looking for here, though the Internal Family Systems (IFS) section does go over some basics of the IFS model.
I found out a couple years ago that the three-year therapy masters program at Central Connecticut State University uses this book as the core of their program, having their students use the concepts of this book to combine various models in order to do therapy with a diverse range of clients with various reasons for coming to therapy.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Transcending limitations, October 6, 2007

By 

J. K. Loomis "licensed massage therapist" (Glastonbury, CT) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Metaframeworks: Transcending the Models of Family Therapy (Jossey-Bass Social & Behavioral Science) (Paperback)

This book is not only information rich, it is also about a way of doing therapy with anyone and everyone, including groups of people, in a way whose time has finally come. Metaframeworks is based on the Eastern concept of a Self that is not only more expansive and compassionate, but able to look at the warring factions within a person, relationship or family and make peace. It relies upon the therapist to do co-therapy with the client(s). It is a lovely, pertinent way to do talk therapy because it assumes that any abberant way of thinking or acting is a defense that can be examined and healed by the individual doing it. It is a juicy book that talks about egalitarianism and equality across the board. Don't take my word for it, get your own copy!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally, a theory that pulls it all together..., April 6, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Metaframeworks: Transcending the Models of Family Therapy (Jossey-Bass Social & Behavioral Science) (Paperback)

...and makes it easy to understand. Geared toward work with systems (i.e., families), but I have found it to be just as useful in working with individuals. A must-have for the professional therapist.