Functional Family Therapy

Clinically relevant, theoretically sound, and scientifically based, Functional Family Therapy (FFT) contains systematic discussions of topics and theoretical perspectives, as well as illustrative clinical examples that demonstrate the manner in which principles are applied in FFT.

This book explains how to provide Functional Family Therapy (FFT), a highly successful family intervention for delinquent and substance-using adolescents. FFT systematically alters important risk and protective factors associated with the problem behaviors.

"For decades following Alfred Adler's pioneering work in the 1920s, family therapy enjoyed only a minor or adjunct role among the various treatment approaches in the field of mental health. Recently, however, family therapy has experienced phenomenal growth in impact and popularity. The functional family therapy approach described in this book, a synthesis of interpersonal, behavioral, and systems orientations, represents a new evolutionary step in the treatment of families. It is based on the substantial works of our predecessors and the experience derived from many hours of seeing families in both clinical and research contexts. The goal of this book is to provide a clear description of the procedures and structure necessary for the successful practice of family therapy. Family therapists need an unambiguous conceptual framework and a set of specific techniques for dealing with families in distress. At the same time, however, they cannot succeed if they are merely technicians. For this reason the book is also designed to enhance the flexibility and creativity therapists need to respond effectively to the myriad needs, idiosyncrasies, and forms of resistance presented by the different families they see. To this end much of the material in the book is presented in a somewhat intuitive manner, often by example and analogy. Part One describes the functional family model as it generally applies to all families, including the specific conceptual, technical, and interpersonal skills required of all family therapists. Conceptual skills comprise the perspectives therapists need to understand families, as well as the knowledge necessary for developing appropriate therapeutic goals and selecting suitable techniques. Technical skills include the verbal, nonverbal, and physical tools that therapists use as vehicles of change. They represent the technology of what therapists do, based on their conceptual understanding of what needs to be done. Interpersonal skills represent the way therapists apply their techniques. The efficacy of the techniques depends significantly on the atmosphere and family attitudes created through these interpersonal skills. Part Two is designed to facilitate therapists' flexibility by describing each of the phases of intervention, with emphasis on the goals of each phase, rather than on the specific techniques. Part Two also describes a number of unique developmental and structural aspects of particular families that require specific techniques"--Preface. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved).

This new Handbook of Family Therapy is the culmination of a decade of achievements within the field of family and couples therapy, emerging from and celebrating the dynamic evolution of marriage and family theory, practice, and research. The editors have unified the efforts of the profession's major players in bringing the most up-to-date and innovative information to the forefront of both educational and practice settings. They review the major theoretical approaches and break new ground by identifying and describing the current era of evidence-based models and contemporary areas of application. The Handbook of Family Therapy is a comprehensive, progressive, and skillful presentation of the science and practice of family and couples therapy, and a valuable resource for practitioners and students alike.

Functional Family Therapy in Clinical Practice develops a comprehensive presentation that serves as a systematic guide to understanding the Functional Family Therapy (FFT) clinical model, the FFT service delivery system, the theoretical principles that serve as the foundation of FFT, and the mechanism of therapeutic change that gives FFT its potency. Clinically relevant, theoretically sound, and scientifically based, this book contains systematic discussions of topics and theoretical perspectives, as well as illustrative clinical examples that demonstrate the manner in which principles are applied in Family Focused Therapy.

The latest theory, research, and practice information for family therapy The last twenty years have seen an explosion of new, innovative, and empirically supported therapeutic approaches for treating families. Mental health professionals working with families today apply a wide range of approaches to a variety of situations and clients using techniques based on their clinically and empirically proven effectiveness, their focus on specific individual and relational disorders, their applicability in various contexts, and their prominence in the field. In this accessible and comprehensive text, each chapter covers specific problems, the theoretical and practical elements of the treatment approach, recommended intervention strategies, special considerations, supporting research, and clinical examples. The contributors provide step-by-step guidelines for implementing the approaches described and discuss particular issues that arise in different couple, family, and cultural contexts. Handbook of Clinical Family Therapy covers treatment strategies for the most common problems encountered in family therapy, including: Domestic violence Adolescent defiance, anxiety, and depression Trauma-induced problems Stepfamily conflicts ADHD disruption Substance abuse in adults and adolescents Couple conflict and divorce Chronic illness A detailed reference for today's best treatment strategies, the Handbook of Clinical Family Therapy brings together the top practitioners and scholars to produce an innovative and user-friendly guide for clinicians and students alike.