Family Therapy

Professor Alan Carr is the director of the Doctoral training programme in clinical psychology at University College Dublin and Consultant Couple and Family Therapist at the Clanwilliam Institute in Dublin. He has published over 20 books and 200 academic papers and conference presentations in the fields of family therapy and clinical psychology. He has extensive experience in family therapy and clinical psychology, having worked in the field in the UK, Ireland, and Canada.

• About the Author  ix Foreword to the Third Edition  xiPreface  xiiiAcknowledgements  xviiPart One Central Concepts in Family Therapy  1Chapter 1 Goals of Family Therapy across the Lifecycle  3The Family Lifecycle 5Lifecycle Stages Associated with Separation and Divorce  33The Individual Lifecycle  41Gender-role Development  48Gay and Lesbian Lifecycles  49Class, Creed and Colour  51Conclusion  52Further Readings  53Chapter 2 Origins of Family Therapy  54Movements: Child Guidance, Marriage Counselling and Sex Therapy 55Disciplines: Social Work, Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology  56Group Therapy: Group Analysis, Encounter Groups, Psychodrama and Gestalt Therapy 57Research Traditions: Work Groups, Role Theory and Schizophrenia  59Gregory Bateson  62Three Organising Themes: Behaviour Patterns, Beliefs and Contexts  74Conclusion  76Glossary  77Further Readings  79Chapter 3 Theories that Focus on Behaviour Patterns  81MRI Brief Therapy  81Strategic Family Therapy  91Structural Family Therapy 95Cognitive-behavioural Couple and Family Therapy  98Functional Family Therapy  101Conclusion  104Glossary  105Further Readings  111Chapter 4 Theories that Focus on Belief Systems  115Epistemology: Positivism, Constructivism, Socialconstructionism, Modernism and Postmodernism  115A Constructivist Approach to Family Therapy 125Milan Systemic Family Therapy  130Social-constructionist Developments  133Solution-focused Therapy  137Narrative Therapy  140Conclusion  144Glossary  146Further Readings 154Chapter 5 Theories that Focus on Contexts 160Transgenerational Family Therapy  160Psychoanalytic Family Therapy  170Attachment-based Therapies  172Experiential Family Therapy  180Multisystemic Family Therapy  187Psychoeducational Family Therapy 188Conclusion  190Glossary  191Further Readings  199Chapter 6 Integrative Models  202Metaframeworks  202Integrative Problem-centred Therapy  205Integrative Problem-centred Metaframeworks  208Attachment Narrative Therapy  209Integrative Couple Therapy  210Affective-reconstructive Couple Therapy  212Integrative Applications within Specific Professions 214Conclusion  215Glossary  216Further Readings  216Part Two Processes in Family Therapy  219Chapter 7 The Stages of Family Therapy  221Stage 1. Planning  221Stage 2. Assessment  225Stage 3. Treatment  244Stage 4. Disengaging or Recontracting 250Conclusion  255Further Readings  255Chapter 8 Formulating Problems and Exceptions  256The Three-column Problem-formulation Model  259The Three-column Exception-formulation Model  267Questions to Ask when Constructing Three-column Formulations  271Recursive Reformulation  277Conclusion  279Further Reading  279Chapter 9 Interventions for Behaviour, Beliefs and Contexts  280Criteria for Selecting Interventions  280Behaviour-focused Interventions  284Interventions Focusing on Belief Systems  299Interventions Focusing on Historical, Contextual and Constitutional Factors 307Conclusion  320Further Readings  320Part Three Family Therapy Practice with Childand Adolescent-focused Problems 321Chapter 10 Conduct Problems  323Systemic Model of Conduct Problems  326Family Therapy for Conduct Problems  332Conclusion  344Further Readings  345Chapter 11 Drug Misuse in Adolescence  346Systemic Model of Drug Misuse in Adolescence  346Family Therapy for Drug Misuse in Adolescence  354Conclusion  360Further Readings  360Part Four Family Therapy Practice with Adult-focused Problems 361Chapter 12 Distressed Couples  363Systemic Model of Distressing Intimate Relationships  365Couple Therapy  370Conclusion  386Further Readings  386Chapter 13 Depression and Anxiety  388Depression  388Anxiety  390Systemic Model of Depression and Anxiety  392Couple Therapy for Depression and Anxiety  397Conclusion  411Further Readings  411Part Five Research and Resources  413Chapter 14 Evidence-based Practice in Couple and Family Therapy 415Overall Effectiveness and Cost-effectiveness of Systemic Therapy 415Child-focused Problems  416Adult-focused Problems  437Common Factors  452Conclusion  453Glossary  454Further Reading  455Chapter 15 Professional Resources  456Written Communication  456Training Exercises  462Conclusion  486References  488Index  526

“It should continue to be considered as a valuable ‘essential’ text for those undertaking training in systemic/family psychotherapy and as a key reference for experienced therapists and educators in the field.”  (Child & Family Social Work, 10 October 2014)