Family Therapy in Focus

by Mark Rivett

• ISBN13: 9780761962366
• ISBN10: 0761962360
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-02-28
• Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd

Summary

Drawing on many years' experience in practice, teaching and research, Mark Rivett and Eddy Street present philosophical, sociological and empirical views of family therapy. Balancing the perceived benefits against the potential limitations, they pose questions, which challenge those within the profession to think hard about their role.} does family therapy work?} can those most in need really be helped?} is family therapy a means of social control?} who does professionalization help?While most texts offer a straightforward and uncritical perspective, in contrast Family Therapy in Focus aims to stimulate debate among practitioners and to help trainees adopt a more reflective and critical attitude towards their own professional development and the development of their profession.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Andy Treacher
Preface	xv
Beginning at a beginning: family therapy as critique	1	(12)
A troubled legacy? Systems theory and family therapy	13	(18)
Family therapy's affair with post-modernism	31	(21)
Freedom or control? The sociological critique of family therapy	52	(20)
Who are the family therapists?	72	(18)
Social policy, social justice and family therapy	90	(22)
Where is the individual?	112	(18)
Does it work?	130	(14)
How does it all go together?	144	(17)
Beginning at an ending: beyond `both/and'	161	(6)
References	167	(17)
Index	184