Treating Family of Origin Problems: A Cognitive Approach [Hardcover]

Richard C. Bedrosian; George D. Bozicas. (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 089862178X | ISBN-13: 978-0898621785 | Publication Date: January 7, 1994 | Edition: 1

This groundbreaking volume shows how the clarity and discipline of cognitive therapy can be applied to the treatment of family of origin issues, such as alcoholism and incest, without compromising depth and clinical sophistication.

Treating Family Of Origin Problems begins with a discussion of the characteristics of dysfunctional families and an overview of the cognitive model. Subsequent chapters explore coping strategies, goals of recovery and treatment, diagnostic considerations, and assessment of family of origin issues. Ways in which the therapist's own family of origin issues and the therapist's posture can influence the treatment process are addressed in a discussion of various metacommunicative elements that can affect the client's ability to use treatment constructively.

Throughout, illustrative clinical material shows how clinicians can utilize embedded messages and other techniques to circumvent resistance; confront various types of acting-out behavior while remaining in a supportive, collaborative posture; and provide a consistent focus in treatment, highlighting the underlying mechanisms that cause distress without becoming mired in unproductive attention to the presenting symptoms. The volume concludes with discussions of building coping strategies, utilizing relationship material, and variations in the recovery process.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"....The book in general is excellent and is certainly the first of its kind in the cognitive therapy literature...." --Frank M. Dattilio, Ph.D. in Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly

"For the advanced student and practicing therapist, the book presents a well articulated approach for working with a 'difficult' population.... And, as a bonus, the reader discovers a treasure of accumulated clinical wisdom, useful to the clinician irrespective of theoretical orientation!" --J. Laurence Passmore, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN

"This book was a pleasure to read, to study, and to review. I've already begun to utilize it in my own work." --Rev. Jon R. Harris in an unpublished review for Journal of Psychology & Christianity

"Drs. Bedrosian and Bozicas also offer a model for assessing the current manifestations of family of origin problems so that, despite a historical focus, treatment can still be geared toward the individual's present-day complaints. This practical orientation should make the book invaluable...."
--From the Foreword by Aaron T. Beck, M.D.

"Bedrosian and Bozicas have written an important and timely volume that integrates the overlapping wisdom of cognitive therapy, developmental psychopathology, and family therapy. It is thorough, practical, and well worth reading. I recommend it highly." --Michael J. Mahoney, Ph.D., Professor, University of North Texas

"At last, someone has made explicit the link between cognitive therapy and family systems-oriented therapy. And, after a seemingly unending spate of recent books about adult victims and survivors that just shoot from the hip, Bedrosian and Bozicas show us in exquisite and persuasive detail how mainstream psychology, psychiatry, and family therapy should inform the responsible treatment of people with such problems. Simply put, this book is one of the most rational and creative pieces of work in psychotherapy in the last several years. Read it--you'll learn a lot!" --Alan S. Gurman, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin Medical School

"The profound influence of family of origin trauma in the lives of our clients is well known in the family therapy field. There has been a compelling need for a cogent treatment model for adult clients from dysfunctional families. This book fills the bill. It provides a hands-on, easily used treatment method for working with individuals from dysfunctional family backgrounds....The book carefully and creatively addresses the complicated clinical questions of how to integrate family of origin work into symptom-focused treatment, and how to help clients develop new beliefs that can free them from old destructive distortions....I found this book immediately applicable for several of my most difficult cases. I think you will too." --David Treadway, Ph.D.

About the Author

Richard C. Bedrosian, Ph.D., is Director of Bedrosian Associates, a group psychology practice in Leominster Massachusetts, and teaches regularly in the Professional Development Program at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. He received training in family and marital therapy at the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic, and served as Clinical and Research Coordinator at Dr. Aaron T. Beck's Center for Cognitive Therapy at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also held a faculty appointment. Coeditor of New Directions in Cognitive Therapy, Dr. Bedrosian has published extensively on such topics as depression, suicide, marital violence, adolescence, and family interaction patterns.

George D. Bozicas, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist in private practice with Bedrosian Associates in Leominister, Massachusetts. He received his training at the Boston Veterans Administration Medical Center. An instructor in the Counseling Psychology Program at Assumption College, Dr. Bozicas is active in workshop presentations and consultations to schools and community groups.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Guilford Press; 1 edition (January 7, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 089862178X
• ISBN-13: 978-0898621785
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #513,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clearest, least pathologizing explanation of CBT I've read, February 26, 2002

By 

Padme (MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Treating Family of Origin Problems: A Cognitive Approach (Hardcover)

I supervise psychology graduate students in a hospital setting, and plan to use this book to teach cognitive therapy concepts. The author's discussion of "seeding" future therapeutic contacts and deepening the therapy over sequential contacts presents a highly pragmatic framework for real-world case conceptualization and goal setting.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very practical and informative, April 23, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Treating Family of Origin Problems: A Cognitive Approach (Hardcover)

This book is very readable and useful. I haven't read the whole thing, but I definitely like the approach here and plan to buy a copy real soon now.

I particularly like how many small sections start with a bit of theory, provide as many as three brief "case-history" examples of the theory applied, and wrap it up with a paragraph showing how the theory can be extended or reinforcing the above treatment. This approach seems very effective in teaching the concepts without excessively pedagogical devices like checklists and questions.

I can't speak for professional therapists, but for me it's just right.