Description
The most up-to-date edition of the gold standard reference in family therapy
Clinician-focused and highly practical, this essential resource emphasizes hands on application over abstract theory. Building on the legacy of John T. Edwards, the newly revised Third Edition addresses contemporary challenges facing families—including addiction and the opioid crisis, trauma, social isolation, cultural complexity, and the impact of technology—by providing concrete tools clinicians can use immediately in practice.
Designed as a true “how to” resource manual, the book demystifies family systems theory and translates it into clear clinical models, interventions, and case examples. Its content is applicable across a wide range of settings, including mental health, substance use treatment, education, child welfare, and criminal justice. While preserving Edwards’ accessible and practical voice, this edition incorporates updated language, reorganized content for improved usability, and expanded attention to cultural humility, special populations, therapist use of self, and clinical supervision.
A hallmark of the Third Edition is its multimodal, practice ready design, featuring session-by-session templates to guide clinicians in conducting both couples and family therapy, along with updated case material, field tested techniques, editorial commentary, highlighted quotes from John T. Edwards, an extensive video catalog, interviews, and previously unpublished content.
Readers will find:
- An evidence‑informed, practice‑ready guide for expanding family therapy competence
- Flexible clinical frameworks that prioritize responsiveness over prescriptive models
- Refreshed strategies for working with substance use, trauma, and behavioral addictions in diverse families
- Over 150 integrated video resources to enhance learning and application
Ideal as a primary or supplementary text for graduate programs in social work, counseling, psychology, and marriage and family therapy, Working With Families also serves as an indispensable desk reference for practitioners seeking practical, authoritative, and hope‑centered clinical guidance.
Table of Contents
Introduction to the Third Edition viii
Preface to Second Edition x
About the Second Edition xi
Acknowledgments from the Second Edition xii
About the Companion Website xiii
Chapter 1: Systems Orientation 1
Introduction 2
Assumptions of a Family Systems Model 3
The Systems Orientation in Theory 4
The Systems Orientation in Practice 5
The Systems Orientation in Concepts 6
Levels of Systems Interventions 7
Cause and Effect in Systems 10
The Systems- Oriented Program Assessment 11
Working Alongside the Medical Model 12
Concluding Thoughts 13
Chapter 2: Fundamentals of Family Work 14
Introduction 15
Learning Family Counseling 16
Why Family Work 17
Rationales for This Approach 18
Uses of Family Counseling 20
Forms of Family Work 21
Bedrock Beliefs About Families 22
A Theory of Change 23
Children Raise Adults 26
Neglected Relationships in Family Counseling 27
Getting a Grip on the Obvious 29
Too Many Variables 30
Too- Brief Family Counseling 31
Traveling Pairs of Concepts 32
Concluding Thoughts 35
Chapter 3: Structuring Family Sessions 36
Introduction 37
Five Basic Tools for Family Counseling 38
General Guidelines for Family Sessions 41
Session- by- Session Guidelines 46
Session Checklist for Family Counseling 48
Review Lists for Family Counselors 49
Family Work in Different Settings 53
Family Counseling Online 57
Shared Goals 59
Concluding Thoughts 61
Chapter 4: Engaging Families 63
Introduction 64
Recruiting Families 66
Family Questions in Individual Counseling 69
Conducting the Initial Family Interview: The ReSPECT Sequence 70
Tips for the First Family Interview 73
Family Resistance 74
Difficult Parents 78
Child Assessment in Plain Language 80
Concluding Thoughts 82
Chapter 5: Case Conceptualization 83
Introduction 84
Guiding Principles 85
Family Mapping 86
The MIGS Sheet 89
Therapeutic Themes by Family Type (Child-Identified Patient) 94
Working with Adolescents and Children 99
Concluding Thoughts 110
Chapter 6: Use of Self 111
Introduction 112
Self- Awareness 114
Fear of Family Work 115
Experience Is Primary 116
Inexperienced Versus Experienced Family Counselors 117
A Novice’s First Family Interview 118
Counselor Development as a Systems Practitioner 121
Clinical Self- Assessment 124
Induction/Countertransference 127
Conscious Use of Self 129
Colleague Consultation 132
Concluding Thoughts 133
Chapter 7: Cultural Perspective in Family Work 135
Introduction 136
Cultural Awareness 137
Dynamic Diversity 140
Special Populations 143
Concluding Thoughts 146
Chapter 8: Systemic Techniques 147
Introduction 148
Tools of the Trade 150
Alter Ego 151
Brief Network Intervention (BNI) 153
Chair Work 156
Circular Questions 157
Colleague Teamwork 158
Drawings 159
Guardrail 162
New Talk 164
Paradox 165
Parent’s Childhood 166
Reflecting Team 168
Reframing 169
Relabeling 172
Safe Rebellion 174
Sculpting and Movement 176
Sibling Talk 179
Strategic Child Assessment 181
Strategic Predictions 182
Toybox 184
Worried Child 185
Summary of Systemic Techniques 187
A Sequential Model of Family Therapy 189
Concluding Thoughts 193
Chapter 9: Working with Couples 194
Introduction 195
General Guidelines 196
Couples Counseling: Additional Tips 199
Couples Work for Substance Use Disorder 200
Couples Counseling Clinical Model of Practice 202
Concluding Thoughts 205
Chapter 10: Working with Multiple Family Groups 206
Introduction 207
Multiple Family Group Counseling 208
Suggested Procedures for Multiple Family Groups 209
Family Recruitment for Multiple Family Groups 210
Clinical Tips 211
Therapeutic Activities 212
Who’s Missing? 214
Elemental Schema for Multiple- Family Group Therapy 215
Multiple Family Groups in Action 217
Concluding Thoughts 218
Chapter 11: Working with Addiction in Families 219
Introduction 220
Defining Substance Use Disorder 222
Useful Approaches to Problematic Substance Use 225
Common Patterns in Families with Substance Use Disorders 227
Adolescents with Problematic Substance Use 236
Codependency 238
Engaging Families with Substance Use Problems 240
Family Counseling for Substance Use Disorders 242
Concluding Thoughts 243
Chapter 12: John T Edwards Biography 244
Chapter 13: The Green Book 249
Green Book Table of Contents 250
Introduction to the Green Book 250
Part One: An Odd Assortment of Musings, Quips, Perceptions, Considerations, Witticisms, and Philosophy for Family Therapists 252
Part Two: Learning How to Live— A Selection of John’s Journal Entries 270
Index 272
Video Link Index 275
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