Working with Relationship Triangles: One-Two-Three of Psychotherapy, The [Hardcover]

Philip J. Guerin Jr. MD (Author), Thomas F. Fogarty (Author), Leo F. Fay Phd (Author), Judith Gilbert Kautto (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 4, 1996 | ISBN-10: 1572301430 | ISBN-13: 978-1572301436 | Edition: 1

Virtually all significant relationships are shadowed by a third party-another person, a competing distraction, or even a memory. This groundbreaking book provides clinicians with a hands-on guide to working with many different kinds of relationship triangles in therapy with families, couples, and individuals. The authors show why triangles come into being, how to predict their evolving nature, and how they can be dealt with and resolved in treatment. A wealth of clinical case material and treatment suggestions illustrates how thinking in terms of threes, as well as individuals and dyads, can greatly increase therapeutic flexibility and effectiveness. The paperback edition includes a new series editor's note by Michael P. Nichols.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This text takes triangles, a concept central to structural and multi-generational family therapy, to the next level of theoretical refinement and clinical usefulness. Easy to read, rich with clinical examples, I recommend it highly to therapists of all persuasions." --Salvador Minuchin, M.D.

"Will be valuable to individuals in a range of disciplines, whether students in training or beginning or experienced practitioners....Unlike too much literature in this field, this book provides a great richness of detail on the theoretical history of triangles and the strategies for assessment and intervention. The volumes's specific guidelines for clinical management will be extremely helpful to any therapist working with individuals, dyads, and/or families. Every chapter contains enormously useful case illustrations gleaned from the many years of clinical experience of the well-known and highly respected practitioner authors." --Mary Ann Quaranta, DSW, Dean, Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service

About the Author

Philip J. Guerin, Jr., MD, the founding director of the Center for Family Learning in Rye Brook, New York, is the originator of the genogram and cognitive systems models of psychotherapy for families, couples, and individuals. A former faculty member at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Fordham University Graduate School of Psychology, and the University of South Alabama School of Medicine, he is the senior author of the highly regarded text The Evaluation and Treatment of Marital Conflict.

 

Thomas F. Fogarty, MD (deceased), a cofounder of the Center for Family Learning, served on the faculties of Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the Pastoral Counseling Institutes of St. John’s University and Iona College. Highly regarded as a creative teacher and clinician, Dr. Fogarty practiced his model of family systems in Westchester County, New York, for more than 40 years.

 

Leo F. Fay, PhD, a retired Associate Professor of Sociology at Fairfield University, now resides in Arizona and serves on the visiting faculty of the Center for Family Learning. He is a coauthor of The Evaluation and Treatment of Marital Conflict.

 

Judith Gilbert Kautto, ACSW, a faculty member and former Director of Postgraduate Education at the Center for Family Learning, maintains a full-time private practice in Westchester County, New York, and is a coauthor of The Evaluation and Treatment of Marital Conflict.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 251 pages
• Publisher: The Guilford Press; 1 edition (October 4, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572301430
• ISBN-13: 978-1572301436
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #804,060 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to recognize, identify and modify triangles., July 8, 1999

By 

T. Clark (Jacksonville, Fl) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Working with Relationship Triangles: One-Two-Three of Psychotherapy, The (Hardcover)

This is the best theoretical book examining a central concept to many family therapy models, triangles. Thomas Fogarty referred to this book as a triangles reference manual for family therapists. A great professional book for the library.

5.0 out of 5 stars Phenominal, January 5, 2010

By 

Mommaw "Emersyns Mommaw" (Utopia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Working with Relationship Triangles: One-Two-Three of Psychotherapy, The (Hardcover)

This book explains the in and outs of "triangling" and "dyadic" relationships and the downfalls that they present. "Triangling" is unhealthy and having or being involved in those types of relationships stagnates the relationships and keep them from evolving. Keeping yourself from becoming involved in one is essential for a healthy existence. The detailed information can become a bit overwhelming at times. I found the best things to do was set it aside for awhile and pick up where I left off for a more comprehensive understanding of it all. Just recently finding out about "triangling" and researching it led me to find this book and read it in detail. I am sharing the following small excerpts from the book that stood out to me.

Page 33
It is natural and desirable that relationships grow and mature over time. As a son or daughter grows up, his or her relationship with parents should go from childlike dependence to an adult relationship. Triangles can retard this development, as in a triangle where a mother is overly close to her child and the father is in the distant position. The relationship between mother and child won't evolve appropriately as the child grows older, and the child may remain infantilized, even as an adult.

Page 209
Often parents blame one child for sibling fights while they let the others off. Thus, we may overlook interlocking triangles among siblings. For example two siblings who are for their mother and against their father in a divorce dispute may put pressure on another sibling to separate from Dad and sign on with Mom. Or, one child in the family may get his or her identity not trying to become someone, but by isolating from his or her siblings and trying to be reactively different from them. The triangle that first leaps out when we see a family, may not be the only significant triangle in the family.


The book goes on to share about examples and ways to stop this from occurring once you are aware of it. The information is invaluable and should be in every home becuase I see so much of this occurring in the world we live in. Well written and precise!

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Helpful for Terapy!, March 4, 2006

By 

Kelly L. Miller (Tuscaloosa, Al United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Working with Relationship Triangles: One-Two-Three of Psychotherapy, The (Hardcover)

I think this book does a great job at showing people how to use the concepts of triangles in psychotherapy. It breaks down the process in a very understandable way.