Family Therapy: A Systemic Integration (6th Edition)

This text is a comprehensive survey of the field of marriage and family therapy, with emphasis on a systemic theoretical perspective.

The systemic-cybernetic framework in Family Therapy provides a framework for understanding people and families in context.  The text–divided into three sections including The Systemic Framework, The Practice of Family therapy, and The Systemic Practitioner–includes historical information, current developments,  and ongoing debates. Various family and developmental theories are integrated into a “dynamic process model” for viewing and understanding family interactions and relationships.  Family therapy models considered, include psychodynamic, natural systems, experiential, structural, communications, strategic, and behavioral/cognitive as well as several postmodern  approaches.  Relative to practice, assessment, intervention, training and supervision, research, and epistemological challenges are described and discussed. 

This Sixth Edition includes information on the most recent developments as well as the ongoing issues of  which the family therapy practitioner needs to be aware (Ch. 2).  It has also been updated with the newest information about various approaches to Family Therapy  (Chapters 6-13).  Increased emphasis is now placed on the importance of  training and supervision.  A rich discussion of the most recent research findings as well as related methodological issues continues to ensure this text is the most comprehensive available (Ch. 17).

The systemic-cybernetic framework in Family Therapy provides a framework for understanding people and families in context. The text—divided into three sections including The Systemic Framework, The Practice of Family Therapy, and The Systemic Practitioner—includes historical information, current developments, and ongoing debates.

What reviewers are saying about Family Therapy: A Systemic Integration. . .

“As teaching students to think systematically is one of my primary course objectives, the Becvar and Becvar text could not provide a better main text for meeting that particular objective.”
Cindy Carlson, University of Texas at Austin

“The authors have modified original counseling theories and updated them so that they are more user friendly. When it is time for me to make a textbook change, I will be strongly inclined to adopt this text for use in my Family Counseling Class.”
Dr. Wanda Staley, Morehead State University

Highlights of the Sixth Edition. . .

• Updated with recent developments and ongoing issues of which the family therapy practitioner needs to be aware (Chapter 2).
• Updated with new information about various approaches to family therapy (Chapters 6—13).
• Increased emphasis on importance of training and supervision (Chapter 16).
• Discussion of the most recent research findings as well as related methodological issues (Chapter 17).
• NEW! Marriage and family therapy Videoworkshop, on CD-Rom, includes a student learning guide along with 85 minutes (20 clips) of specific video footage. Available FREE when packaged with Becvar/Becvar!

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