Extended Dialogue About Significant Developments: Manualising Systemic Family Therapy: The Leeds Manual

Steve Allison and Amaryll Perlesz review a systemic family therapy manual developed at the Leeds Family Therapy and Research Centre. Responding to the critique, Helen Pote gives an account of the manual's history, and its reception in the UK.     

The Aboriginal People: Literary Perspectives

There continues to be a worrying lack of material about family therapy with Aborigines, despite the massive difficulties experienced by Aboriginal people. A notable exception has been from Geraldine Slattery, whose original paper Transcultural Therapy with Aboriginal Families: Working with the Belief System was published by the Journal in 1987. Here Geraldine reviews two recent publications by University of Queensland Press, which has a long record of publishing about our Aboriginal citizens. While these books are not specifically focused on family therapy, their central relevance will be obvious. — Editor.     

A feminist analysis of self-help bestsellers for improving relationships: a decade review

Self-help literature is pervasive and influential in the United States. A critical analysis of self-help books would help therapists to determine their utility for the therapeutic process and assist them in making reading recommendations to clients. In this study, a content analysis was conducted of the top 11 relationship self-help books on the New York Times Bestseller List over a period of 10 years (1988-1998) to determine the degree to which these books support a feminist approach to therapy. This study yielded three major findings. First, the number of feminist books, the number of nonfeminist books, and those falling in the middle across four components of feminist family therapy are about equal. However, the second major finding was that the top-selling books are more likely to be nonfeminist than feminist. The third finding is that most best-selling self-help books appear to have become less compatible with a feminist approach to relationships over time. This analysis encourages therapists to think critically about these best-selling books; it will also allow therapists to consider this methodology as a model for critically analyzing other books that they recommend to clients or use in their own professional development.     

Independent Comment on Audio‐visual and Print Materials: The Graduate Diploma in Family Centred Practice,Monash University

Book reviewed in this article: Brief Therapy for Couples: W. Kim Halford NY Domestic Violence in Australia: The Legal Response, 3rd edn.: Renata Alexander Intimacy & Solitude: Balancing Closeness and Independence.: Stephanie Dowrick Clinical Epiphanies in Marital and Family Therapy: A Practitioner's Casebook of Therapeutic Insights, Perceptions, and Breakthroughs: David A. Bastiste Jr. (Ed.). Comparative Treatments for Relationship Dysfunction: Frank M. Dattilio Women's Stories of Divorce at Childbirth: When the Baby Rocks the Cradle: Hilary Hodge Recreating Partnership: A Solution Oriented, Collaborative Approach to Couples Therapy.: Phillip Ziegler and Tobey Hiller But Facts Exist: An Enquiry into Psychoanalytic Theorizing: Thomas Freeman Refugees: Living on the Margins: Helen Pavlin     

ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN FAMILY THERAPY

A review of the literature in the area of ethical dilemmas facing family therapists revealed that there were a number of issues facing family therapists which are not included in the Principles for Family Therapists (1984) of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Seventy-five family therapists from across the nation responded to a questionnaire which asked what ethical dilemmas they face and how helpful the ethical guidelines are with these dilemmas. Results indicate that family therapists are encountering dilemmas which are not included in the Principles, significantly more often than those that are included. The ethical principles were found to be helpful for those ethical dilemmas attended to by the Principles.     

Bargaining With Time: An Interview With Helen Pavlin

Helen Pavlin is an accredited mental health social worker and family therapist and accredited family dispute resolution practitioner in private practice in Darwin. She has been involved in social work and family therapy since the early 1970s in Australia and internationally. In 1996 she received the 50th Anniversary Commemorative Medal from the Australian Association of Social Workers. She is one of the assessors and associate editors for the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy. In 2007 Helen received the Journal Award for her outstanding contribution to the family therapy field in Australia. She is an accomplished writer and a member of the Australian Society of Authors. Her poems and book reviews have been published frequently in ANZJFT.     

DOES ACADEMIC TRAINING BACKGROUND MAKE A DIFFERENCE AMONG PRACTICING MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS?

Using a national sample of practicing marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and their clients, this study investigated whether academic training background is associated with differences in pracice patterns and client outcomes. Clinical members of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy with academic training in psychology, social work, counseling, and marriage and family therapy were compared on a wide range of clinical practice variables, and their clients were surveyed about thier satisfaction and outcomes. Results showed highly similar practice patterns and client outcomes across all four disciplinary groups. Although the findings showed little evidence for the uniqueness of academic marriage and family therapy training among experienced MFTs, they also refute the notion that therapists trained in MFT degree programs practice in unusual or inferior ways compared to MFTs trained originally in other mental health disciplines.     

Vital Lines Drawn From Books: Difficult Feelings in Alison Bechdel's Fun Home and Are You My Mother?

This article examines the representation of a transnational archive of queer books in Alison Bechdel's graphic memoirs Fun Home and Are You My Mother? for the insights it provides into the role of reading in making sense of the often difficult “felt experiences” of lesbian life. In both memoirs, books serve an important narrative function in the portrayal of Alison's lesbian identification and its complex emotional entanglements with the lives of parents who are trapped—killed even, in the case of the father—in the wastelands of patriarchy and heterosexual expectation. The article argues that in this complex family dynamic in which “sexual identity” itself is a problem and emotions remain largely unspoken, books act as fragile conduits of feelings, shaping familial relationships even as they allow Alison to contextualize her life in relation to historical events and social norms. Reading books allows her to understand the apparently U.S.-specific history of her family in relation to a wider queer history in the West.     

Independent comment on Audio‐visual and Print Materials

Book reviewed in this article: Psychology and Psychiatry: Integrating Medical Practice Jeannette Milgrom, Graham D. Burrows (Eds.) Systhema — Opinion, Exchange, Discussions. Edition 3: 2000 — Disability, Illness, Death. Institut für Familientherapie Weinheim/Germany Memory in Dispute Valerie Sinason (Ed.) Women Who Sexually Abuse Children: From Research to Clinical Practice Jacqui Saradjian in association with Helgar Hanks Culture and Mental Health: A Southern African View Leslie Swartz The Learning about Myself (LAMS) Program for At‐Risk Parents: Learning from the Past — Changing the Future Verna Rickard, Binghamton The Learning about Myself (LAMS) Program for At‐Risk Parents: Handbook for Group Participants Verna Rickard, Binghamton Family Counselling and Therapy 3rd edn Arthur M. Horne (Ed.) Beyond Belief: Psychotherapy and Religion Samuel Stein (Ed.) Couples and the Tao of Congruence Barbara Jo Brothers (Ed.) Lesbians and Gays in Couples and Families: A Handbook for Therapists Joan Laird, Robert‐Jay Green (Eds)     

“We're All Kids!” Picture Books and Cultural Awareness

Picture books engage young learners across the elementary curriculum and can effectively help teach about a variety of social studies topics. Social studies may be a neglected subject in many elementary schools, but purposefully incorporating it through children's literature provides an effective means of advancing both literacy skills and social studies understanding. In this study, first graders from two different schools were each provided with five books related to social studies ideas as part of a summer reading program. A picture-sorting activity with six of the students as they began second grade found variations in cultural awareness. Students were found to display chauvinism and presentism more with images relating to a country they had not read about (China) than with one that was included in the books (Tanzania). This study found that providing students with opportunities to read picture books with text and images that accurately reflect contemporary life in different countries can help young students become attuned to cultural similarities and differences, which promotes cultural awareness.     

Forgiveness and therapy: a critical review of conceptualizations, practices, and values found in the literature

This article is a critical review of how forgiveness is conceptualized in the family therapy, counseling, and clinical psychology literature. A systematic analysis of themes in a fairly comprehensive set of texts was carried out. Three main dimensions emerged along which therapist authors' viewpoints can be located: essentiality, intentionality, and benevolence. Therapy practices and values that correspond with positions along these dimensions are presented. The analysis reveals that greater exploration is needed regarding how forgiveness is related to diversity (e.g., gender, culture, religion, etc.), marginalization, and relations of power. Our objective is to provide a conceptual map for clinicians so that they might locate their own thinking about forgiveness and be better equipped to work sensitively with the forgiveness views and values of their clients.     

Therapeutic change in Colombian families dealing with violence: therapists, clients, and referring systems in conversation

There is a gap in the Marriage and Family Therapy literature regarding clients', therapists', and family judges' theories of change in relational therapy for family violence. We conducted in-depth interviews with eleven court-referred families, their therapists, and two family judges in Bogota, Colombia. Interviews focused on their expectations of therapy outcomes, their understanding of change, and their evaluation of individual and relational therapy outcomes. We followed a grounded theory approach to data analysis. Analyses showed that therapists, family judges, and clients hold different expectations and theories regarding therapeutic change. Findings are discussed based on existing research on clients' and therapists' ideas about change. Implications for future research and practice are presented.     

Audio-Video Reviews

Barbara Knothe, Consultant Psychiatrist, Bouverie Family Therapy Centre, has reviewed two videotapes, produced by Anita Morawetz. The tapes demonstrate Anita's work with two families, seen at the Bouverie Family Therapy Centre. In one tape, Anita supervised one of the trainees on the Training Programme and it is interesting to see how the work of the training group, family and supervisor evolves. The tapes were produced in 1988–1989 and are available from: Bouverie Family Therapy Centre, 31 Poplar Road, Parkville Vic 3052 Tel: (03) 389 2480. The contact person is Ms Kate Gerber, Clerical Officer. There is no charge for borrowing the tapes, although interstate borrowers must pay for postage (“Cash on Delivery” charges). People may borrow 2 tapes at a time, for a period of 2 weeks. Each borrower is asked to sign a form, which will be sent to them, stating they will accept responsibility for the tape and they will respect the confidentiality of the family. Thanks to Anita for producing the tapes and making her work available to other therapists and trainees, for their professional development. Thanks also to Barbara for her reviews and to Bouverie Family Therapy Centre for their generosity and for maintaining an excellent tape library. I would like to encourage other therapists in Australia and New Zealand to produce audio and/or videotapes of their work, on particular areas of interest. David Epston was one of the first therapists to do this — when he produced a videotape called “The Family who loved to stay at Home” which was reviewed by Jim Birch. Many “local” therapists are making recordings of their work and these provide an invaluable resource for training, supervision, consultation and research. If you are interested in producing some material for reviewing and “public” use, please contact me on: (Work) 03 550 130 (Home) 03 898 6983. You may feel overwhelmed by the task, but please don't abandon the idea. Call me and we can talk about this and your ideas. Making tapes for these purposes may not be as difficult or as daunting as you think.     

‘Let's Live,and See’: Interview with Moshe Talmon

Moshe Talmon, author of Single Session Therapy and Single Session Solutions, spoke to Lil Cox, family therapist from Oakrise Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service at Launceston, when she caught up with him at the Inaugural Pan‐Pacific Family Therapy Conference in Melbourne, Australia in September 2001. He spoke about his early life, training, his research showing that clients can get what they need from one session, and his current approach to therapy. Finally, he gives his reasons for continuing to live and work in Israel.     

ORGANIZATION OF EXPERIENCE AMONG FAMILY MEMBERS IN THE IMMEDIATE PRESENT: A GESTALT/SYSTEMS INTEGRATION

How processes of family functioning are conceptualized influences a therapist's understanding and use of immediate experiential phenomena in the therapy setting. This article outlines two basic formulations that generate different conceptual perspectives of immediate phenomena. One recognizes that the family system has a time-enduring stability, while the second postulates that the family system has an immediate and temporary organization. The latter position is developed as an appropriate and useful application of systems thinking. Integrating systems thinking and Gestalt Therapy provides a framework for this application, one that recognizes individual experience as organized and as embedded in a mutual causal, self-maintaining system of the whole. The nature of such wholes, how they maintain their stability, their potential for change, and implications for therapy are described.     

An Empirical Assessment of the Goals of Family Therapy*

This study is an empirical assessment of the goals of family therapists. A list of goals was developed based on a theoretical clustering of the family therapy literature into the dimensions of communication, cohesion, and adaptability. Three hundred ten clinical members of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) responded to a questionnaire about their use of these goals in family therapy. The findings indicate that the goals employed by this sample seem to reflect ideas from the literature which are not the property of any one “school” of family therapy. The goals that were rated and ranked highest included encouraging family members to relate caringly, responsibly, and creatively in negotiating their differences. Goals that were rated and ranked lowest included the more advanced or technical communication skills and some cohesion goals that may be interpreted as related to institutional aspects of family life.     

When the levee breaks: treating adolescents and families in the aftermath of hurricane katrina

Hurricane Katrina brought to the surface serious questions about the capacity of the public health system to respond to community-wide disaster. The storm and its aftermath severed developmentally protective family and community ties; thus its consequences are expected to be particularly acute for vulnerable adolescents. Research confirms that teens are at risk for a range of negative outcomes under conditions of life stress and family disorganization. Specifically, the multiple interacting risk factors for substance abuse in adolescence may be compounded when families and communities have experienced a major trauma. Further, existing service structures and treatments for working with young disaster victims may not address their risk for co-occurring substance abuse and traumatic stress reactions because they tend to be individually or peer group focused, and fail to consider the multi-systemic aspects of disaster recovery. This article proposes an innovative family-based intervention for young disaster victims, based on an empirically supported model for adolescent substance abuse, Multidimensional Family Therapy (MDFT; Liddle, 2002). Outcomes and mechanisms of the model's effects are being investigated in a randomized clinical trial with clinically referred substance-abusing teens in a New Orleans area community impacted by Hurricane Katrina.     

THE AAMFT-HEAD START TRAINING PARTNERSHIP PROJECT: ENHANCING MFT CAPACITIES BEYOND THE FAMILY SYSTEM

This paper summarizes the experience of a two-year project to promote partnerships between 12 graduate Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) training programs and their 12 local Head Start partners. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) awarded 9 grants to MFT-Head Start partnerships that had established relationships with each other prior to the project. Three MFT-Head Start pairs that had no preexisting relationship but wanted to develop one received planning grants. The partnership project provided an exciting opportunity for MFT faculty and interns to integrate family systems theory into larger organizational settings and to enhance the capacity of MFTs to serve disadvantaged, low-income, culturally diverse families and the community agencies that work with them. Preparing MFT students to intervene and respond systemically both in organizations and with the families they serve represents a viable alternative to more traditional approaches to MFT that limit the focus to the family system. Survey results and interview data reflect the rich experiences of MFT faculty and supervisors, MFT interns, and Head Start staff. Implementation issues are discussed and recommendations are made to improve the collaboration between MFTs and community-based agencies such as Head Start.