Systems of Family Therapy

Book excerpt: First published in 1987. This book connects Adlerian theory, defined as a human systems approach, with the other systems theories of family therapy. By comparison and contrast with five other popular family therapy theories, the authors suggest that Adlerian family therapy can well serve as a much-needed integrative model-a need often stressed in the literature and in many conference presentations. Adlerian psychology is described as an open system theory that provides the theoretical base for synthesizing the multitude of concepts and techniques now extant in the burgeoning field of family therapy. Systems of Family Therapy fulfills the need for integration and synthesis and enables clinicians to make use of the broad range of ideas and methods generated in contemporary family therapy theories within an internally consistent framework. Chapters describe the history of the theory, basic principles and con­cepts, structure of the therapy, the behavior change model, and specific techniques for conducting the therapy. Many case examples are used throughout. The volume is enhanced by five distinguished contributing authors who are skilled in both Adlerian theory and another major theory. They each make a detailed comparison of the two theories with respect to history, major concepts, definitions of well and dysfunctional families, diagnoses, change models and techniques, and a summary of their findings. The theories analyzed are Satir's model, the M.R.I. Interactional View, Strategic therapy, Structural therapy, and Rational-Emotive therapy.