An Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy » (1st Edition)

Learn the fundamentals of family therapy and treatment!

An Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy presents insight and analysis from 20 of the foremost experts in the theoretical and practice areas of family therapy, offering a unique blend of approaches and styles. Chapters draw on each author's area of expertise in exploring the history of family therapy and the application of systems theory to families. Ideal as a comprehensive resource for entry-level students, the book also gives undergraduates a glimpse of graduate training and provides useful tips on how to apply to graduate school and what to expect while shopping for graduate education.

An Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy is divided into two parts: a theoretical section, where commonly used theories are presented with practical case examples, and a section devoted to special issues and topics, such as couples therapy, communication training, marital enrichment and premarital counseling. The book also covers substance abuse, divorce, gender and culture, family violence, sexual dysfunctions and sex therapy treatment, and the interface of ethics and the legal system.

An Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy also discusses:

• the history of family therapy
• systems theory and cybernetics
• structural and strategic family therapy
• cognitive-behavioral, experiential, and transgenerational therapies
• collaborative language-based models
• current research findings
• and much more!

With its unique and comprehensive approach, An Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy serves as a theoretical introduction to the field of marriage and therapy and related mental health disciplines where family treatment is emphasized. The book is essential for educators in marriage and family counseling classes and is an invaluable resource for therapists, counselors, social work professionals, pastoral educators, and family psychologists.

	About the Editors
	Contributors
	Programs in Marriage and Family Therapy
	Foreword
	Preface
	Acknowledgments
Pt. I	Theories in Marriage and Family Therapy
Ch. 1	The History of Marriage and Family Therapy	3
Ch. 2	General Systems Theory, Cybernetics, and Family Therapy	39
Ch. 3	Structural Family Therapy	63
Ch. 4	Strategic Family Therapy	95
Ch. 5	Milan Systemic Therapy	123
Ch. 6	The Collaborative Language-Based Models of Family Therapy: When Less Is More	149
Ch. 7	Experiential Approaches to Family Therapy	173
Ch. 8	Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies for Couples and Families	203
Ch. 9	Transgenerational Family Therapies	255
Pt. II	Special Issues and Topics in Marriage and Family Therapy
Ch. 10	Couple Therapy	297
Ch. 11	Communication Training, Marriage Enrichment, and Premarital Counseling	337
Ch. 12	Sexual Dysfunctions and Sex Therapy	369
Ch. 13	Contextual Issues in Marital and Family Therapy: Gender, Culture, and Spirituality	409
Ch. 14	Special Topics in Family Therapy	449
Ch. 15	Ethical, Legal, and Professional Issues in Marriage and Family Therapy	493
Ch. 16	Research in Marriage and Family Therapy	539
	Index	591