In Therapy Together

Book excerpt: Families come in all shapes and sizes, and all have love at their roots; however, by the time a family requests help from a psychotherapist, resentment, fear and disappointment have often become the dominant forces ruling everyday life. Moving away from the medically-focused ‘problem-diagnosis-treatment’ model of psychotherapy, Peter Rober’s thought-provoking new text conceptualises family therapy as a dialogue between living, breathing people; it emphasises the mutuality and relational context that serves as the backdrop of a therapeutic encounter, whereby family members will interact, emotions will be displayed and suppressed, and practitioners will need to navigate carefully, endeavouring not just to listen but to understand the stories being told. Astute and engaging throughout, each chapter provides close analysis of a rich variety of case studies, combined with an examination of key theories and concepts from different schools of thought in family therapy; with a particular focus on dialogical thinking, the book explores the ways in which these theoretical concepts can be applied in everyday practice situations. Written by a leading expert in the field, this insightful new addition to Palgrave’s Basic Texts in Counselling and Psychotherapy series provides an accessible exploration of a complex area of practice. It will prove invaluable reading for those studying family therapy specifically, as well as students taking more general counselling and psychotherapy courses and practitioners looking for a fresh source of guidance.