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 ixForeword 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 280Part Three Criteria for Selecting Interventions 280Behaviour-focused Interventions 284Interventions Focusing on Belief Systems 299Interventions Focusing on Historical, Contextual and Constitutional Factors 307Conclusion 320Further Readings 320Family 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)