Family therapy - reading recommendations?

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kr862313

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Hi everyone,

I'm going into my 3rd year at Indiana University of PA and will be starting an external practicum in the fall in which I'll be working with a general population (families included).

I have taken a class on family therapy and have a textbook that briefly describes each of the different methods (e.g., structural, strategic, experiential, etc.) but doesn't go into much depth. I have done intake sessions with families but not formal family therapy.

I'm wondering if anyone has any recommendations for books/treatment manuals/articles that can help prepare me for doing family therapy? What approach do most use nowadays? I liked learning about experiential (and the little bit that was included about Satir), but my professor seemed negative about it.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!

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I'm not much of a resource, as I similarly have minimal clinical experience working with families (solely intakes thus far), and I'm in my first family therapy course at the moment. However, I really enjoyed Minuchin's Family Therapy Techniques book. It's not very new (1970s/80s), but it's a great read with many case examples and various techniques. Plus he's one of the pioneers in the field.
 
Thanks. I'll definitely look into that. I knew he was a pioneer, just wasn't sure if he was still used.
 
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If Satir resonated with you I'm not sure how much you'd enjoy orthodox structural. It is a highly directive modernist approach. At the same time, I think structural provides the clearest framework for conceptualizing familial relationships (boundaries, subsystems, hierarchy, etc.). I'd definitely read Minuchin's book "Family Therapy Techniques" and remember that he mellowed out quite a bit in later life. Tracking down videos of his later work may be beneficial.
 
I love bowen family systems theory. the Kerr and Bowen is a classic, and i really enjoyed re-visioning family therapy
 
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