Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy with Couples and Families: A Comprehensive Guide for Clinicians »

Frank M. Dattilio, PhD, ABPP, holds faculty positions with the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He is also in the private practice of clinical and forensic psychology and marital and family therapy in Allentown, Pennsylvania. With more than 250 professional publications in the areas of couple and family problems, anxiety and behavioral disorders, and forensic and clinical psychology, Dr. Dattilio has presented extensively on CBT throughout the world. His works have been translated into more than 27 languages and are used in over 80 countries. He serves on the editorial boards of a number of professional journals, including the Journal of Marital and Family Therapy and Contemporary Family Therapy. Dr. Dattilio is a recipient of several awards for outstanding achievement in the fields of psychology and psychotherapy, including, most recently, the MFT of the Year Award from the Pennsylvania Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

From a leading expert in cognitive-behavioral therapy and couple and family therapy, this comprehensive guide combines cutting-edge research and clinical wisdom. The author shows how therapeutic techniques originally designed for individuals have been successfully adapted for use with couples and families struggling with a wide range of relationship problems and stressful life transitions. Vivid clinical examples illustrate the process of conducting thorough assessments, implementing carefully planned cognitive and behavioral interventions, and overcoming roadblocks. The book highlights ways to enhance treatment by drawing on the latest knowledge about relationship dynamics, attachment, and neurobiology. Cultural diversity issues are woven throughout.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Gary B Kaniuk, Psy.D.(Cermak Health Services)
Description:This book describes how cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can be used with couples and families and demonstrates how it can be integrated with family systems, attachment theory, and neurobiology. The author also explains the role of schema in the family dynamic.
Purpose:According to the author, the book "presents a comprehensive model of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with couples and families." It also "gets into the nitty-gritty aspects of working with difficult families who are stuck in rigid thought and behavioral patterns that clinicians often find arduous to treat.
Audience:It is intended for clinicians who treat couples and families, including therapists and counselors, clinical psychologists, social workers, pastoral counselors, and psychiatrists, as well as graduate students and trainees. One of the leaders in the field of CBT, Frank Dattilio, PhD, is on faculty at Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania, and trained under Joseph Wolpe and Aaron Beck. He has coauthored many books and has presented CBT in countries on six continents.
Features:The author explains the cognitive processes that influence change, especially the schema component. He spends a lot of time discussing how the clinical assessment is conducted and describing various cognitive-behavioral techniques. Other topics include divorce, extramarital affairs, substance abuse, and domestic abuse. Finally, the book includes adjunctive therapies such as acceptance-based techniques and mindfulness. Two appendixes contain a list of various questionnaires and inventories for couples and families and show how to use a dysfunctional thought record. The 33 pages of clinical material, therapist interpretations, and interventions in the case examples in chapter 9 are invaluable for all clinicians, but especially for novice therapists. Many of the other chapters have clinical examples as well.
Assessment:This excellent book, written by an expert in the field of CBT, walks readers through the therapeutic process and provides techniques. The clinical examples are best thing about the book.

1. Introduction

2. The Mechanics of Change with Couples and Families

3. The Schema Component in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

4. The Role of Neurobiological Processes

5. Methods of Clinical Assessment

6. Cognitive-Behavioral Techniques

7. Special Topics

8. Enhancements to Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy

9. Case Examples

10. Epilogue

Appendix A. Questionnaires and Inventories for Couples and Families

Appendix B. Dysfunctional Thought Record