Power of Family: An Experiential Approach to Family Treatment
D. MAURIE LUNG, LMHC
GARY STAUFFER, LMSW
TONY ALVAREZ, LMSW
& JOHN CONWAY, LCSW, CADC
ISBN: 978-1-939019-15-8 SIZE: 7.75 x 9.25 PAGE COUNT: 192
Experiential therapists emphasize the feeling side of human nature: creativity, spontaneity, and the ability to play in therapy, as well as the value of experience for its own sake. We would stress that the intentional use of specifically designed interactive interventions with families offers the best of both worlds: an emphasis on each individual’s lived experience of being in the family along with a focus on structural and system issues that often dictate how each experience within a family is processed and perceived.
The authors invite you to explore the intentional use of interactive interventions as a primary methodology in family treatment. The activities they introduce into the therapy office provide an immediate context for witnessing how the family functions first-hand. In this manner, families reveal systems, structures, cognitive and emotional processes, strategies, communication styles, approaches to problem-solving, as well as other issues traditionally targeted in the process of family treatment. The intent is to provide an environment that allows family members to freely and genuinely demonstrate their strengths and limitations.
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Table of Contents
Introduction Chapter 1: Clinical Foundation Newspaper Towers: Case Study by Marty Riggs, LCSW Chapter 2: Clinical Application Chapter 3: Therapeutic Use With Families Building Trust in a Minefield: Case Study by Rachel Wood, LCSW Chapter 4: Clinical Reference Charts Clinical Purposes Definitions Clinical Purposes/Activity Intervention Chart Common Family Interaction Patterns Family Interaction Patterns/Activity Intervention Chart DSM Diagnosis/Activity Intervention Chart Navagating the Waters: Case Study by Rebecca Gauchet, LCSW Chapter 5: Experiential Activities (see Activity Index on page 35) Chapter 6: Power of One Activities Adapted for Families Key Exchange: Case Study by Kim Sacksteder, LISW-S Chapter 7: High Adventure Activities The Pendulum of Parenting: Case Study by Michael Gass, PhD LMFT Chapter 8: Transitional Activities Chapter 9: Reflection Activities Chapter 10: Family Homework Goal Circle: Case Study by Tony Alvarez, LMSW Chapter 11: Sample Sequence: Individual Family Chapter 12: Sample Sequence: Multi-Family Multi-Family Mother/Daughter Retreat: Case Study by Amy Embury, MA, LLP Chapter 13: Writing Family Treatment Notes Chapter 14: Agency Favorites Family Activities Acknowledgements References About the Authors
