Working With Families: A Guide for Health and Human Services Professionals

This accessible manual provides both students and health and human services professionals with a wealth of information about the issues and challenges facing families. Drawing from clinical and sociological perspectives and employing an empowerment approach, Spindel provides practical strategies for promoting resilience and positive family functioning. The chapters cover a wide spectrum of topics, including diverse family structures, healthy and unhealthy forms of communication, family culture and beliefs, couple dynamics, addiction, and developmental and psychiatric disabilities. The book also pays special attention to military families, the effects of violence and trauma, and professional ethics and self-care. Working with Families is an indispensable resource for students of social services, child and youth work, and early childhood education, as well as for faculty and practitioners in the helping professions.