Handbook of Systemic Approaches to Psychotherapy Manuals

Book excerpt: This handbook examines the development and use of manuals to guide and support systemic couples and family therapies. It addresses the process of manualizing, providing a secure base for therapist creativity rather than delineating prescriptive procedures. The volume addresses therapist and trainer concerns by demonstrating the value of sufficiently articulating clinical and teaching models to inform colleagues of what actually occurs during therapy. The book describes the history, value, and controversies of manuals. In addition, it explores issues and experiences in the creation of manuals, identifies research issues related to the use and evaluation of manuals, and addresses training as a context for the application of treatment manuals. Key areas of coverage include: Reports of experiences with major, internationally established manuals, formulations of innovative practices by their developers, and specifications of training programs. Discussion of the various formats of manuals, demonstrating their benefit and transportability across different contexts. Surveys of a broad selection of manuals, creating a flexible and diversified concept of what forms manuals may take. Essential guidance for using manuals, which is an indispensable step for the field to progress and to claim to health resource commissioning, governments and insurance agencies that the systemic practice is evidence based and effective. The Handbook of Systemic Approaches to Psychotherapy Manuals is an essential resource for researchers, professors, and graduate students as well as clinicians and related therapists and professionals in clinical psychology, family studies, public health, social work, psychotherapy, child and adolescent psychology and all interrelated disciplines.