Becoming a Family Counselor: A Bridge to Family Therapy Theory and Practice

A complete and accessible resource for working with couples and families
Becoming a Family Counselor sets a new standard for family therapy texts. Working from a broad historical orientation, it focuses on the common themes that reappear across various theoretical approaches and connects family practice with individual approaches. Crossing boundaries of generation, gender, race, and culture, this useful introduction presents current thinking related to today′s practice issues.
The text begins with an overview of couple and family counseling, emphasizing the diversity and unity in the field. The development of the field is examined, from its roots in the nineteenth century through its identity crisis in the 1980s. Subsequent chapters lay out an integrated approach to contemporary family research, theory, and therapy; core chapters focus on understanding the contributions of behavioral, organizational, narrative, emotional, and spiritual perspectives. The last section of the book offers practical chapters on conducting family therapy in organizational contexts that often define the client in individual terms. Readers are encouraged to balance a change orientation with a respect for continuity and tradition.
Complete with illuminating case studies, self–evaluation exercises, suggestions for independent study, and current ethics codes, Becoming a Family Counselor is a dynamic resource suitable for both students and practicing mental health professionals.

Spis treści:
Preface.
Acknowledgments.
PART I: INTRODUCTION.
Chapter 1. Couple and Family Counselors: Individual Portraits.
Chapter 2. Retelling the Story: Couple and Family Counseling in the Early Years.
Chapter 3. The Field Matures: 1980 to the Present.
PART II: FAMILY THERAPY IN ITS MID–LIFE: FIVE TIMES.
Chapter 4. Behavior: Learning, Habits, and Reinforcement.
Chapter 5. Organization: Planning, Decision Making, and Action.
Chapter 6. Narra tive: Language, Culture, and Identity.
Chapter 7. Emotion: Regulation, Relationship, and Motivation.
Chapter 8. Spirituality: Purpose, Acceptance, and Meaning.
PART III: JUDGMENT, ACTION, AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT IN FAMILY COUNSELING.
Chapter 9. Joining, Struggling Together, and Saying Goodbye.
Chapter 10. The Ethical Family Counselor.
Chapter 11. Future Directions for Family Counseling.
Appendix A: ACA Code of Ethics.
Appendix B: AAMFT Code of Ethics.
Appendix C: Ethical Code of the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors.
References.
Name Index.
Subject Index.


Nota biograficzna:
Thomas W. Blume earned a PhD in marital and family therapy from Texas Tech University. He is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor, AAMFT Approved Supervisor, and National Certified Counselor. An Associate Professor at Oakland University, he teaches introductory and advanced family counseling courses. Dr. Blume maintains a small private practice specializing in addictions, couples in transition, adolescents, and stepfamilies.


Okładka tylna:
A complete and accessible resource for working with couples and families
Becoming a Family Counselor sets a new standard for family therapy texts. Working from a broad historical orientation, it focuses on the common themes that reappear across various theoretical approaches and connects family practice with individual approaches. Crossing boundaries of generation, gender, race, and culture, this useful introduction presents current thinking related to today′s practice issues.
The text begins with an overview of couple and family counseling, emphasizing the diversity and unity in the field. The development of the field is examined, from its roots in the nineteenth century through its identity crisis in the 1980s. Subsequent chapters lay out an integrated approach to contemporary family research, theory, and therapy; core chapters focus on understanding the contributions of behavioral, organizational, narrative, emotional, and spiritual perspectives. The last section of the book offers practical chapters on conducting family therapy in organizational contexts that often define the client in individual terms. Readers are encouraged to balance a change orientation with a respect for continuity and tradition.
Complete with illuminating case studies, self–evaluation exercises, suggestions for independent study, and current ethics codes, Becoming a Family Counselor is a dynamic resource suitable for both students and practicing mental health professionals.