Foundations Of Family Therapy: A Conceptual Framework For Systems Change

by Lynn Hoffman

Of all the therapeutic modalities in force today, none shows greater promise for dramatic personal change than the fast-growing field of family therapy. Yet no discipline is more lacking in a unified theoretical framework.Now, in this brilliant new work, Lynn Hoffman, noted therapist and, with Jay Haley, author of Techniques of Family Therapy (Basic Books, 1968) provides the much-needed synthesis that weaves together the diverse themes and concepts around which family theory and therapy have evolved. Sweeping in its coverage, solidly researched yet consistently lively and readable, Foundations of Family Therapy is unique in the way it successfully bridges the gap between the family field and other social sciences.Starting with Gregory Bateson’s seminal ideas on social fields, the book examines key concepts that have come to family therapy from general systems theory, notably the cybernetic paradigm. The author looks closely at the early studies of combination patterns in “schizophrenic” families and then connects this research with related work on family typology and on the whole range of emotional disorders.The second part of the book explores the major schools of family therapy and such figures as Minuchin, Bowen, Whitaker, Haley, Erickson, and Ackerman, as well as the revolutionary work of Selvini Palazzoli and her associates in Milan.Bold in conception, beautifully integrative, Foundations of Family Therapy conveys the excitement of the growth of ideas, while at the same time giving the reader a systematic and coherent overview of family therapy as it is practiced today. Both clinicians and researchers will recognize it as the major synthesis of contemporary family therapy.

Genres: Psychology

400 pages, Hardcover

First published August 6, 1981

Reviews

[Diego López · Rating 4 out of 5]

La psicología familiar tiene sus albores a mediados del siglo XX, considerando, mucho antes, las teorías propuestas por los psicoanalistas, conductistas y sociólogos sobre la interacción de los grupos. Pero no es sino tras la llegada de los tres enfoques (ecológico, estructuralista y sistémico) que se produjo cambios en la visión del aprendizaje individual y colectivo; razón que ha llevado a Lynn Hoffman teorizar sobre una posible epistemología circular, donde los problemas psicopatológicos del individuo radican y forman parte de un colectivo (familiar) con el que interactúa y se fortalece.
A diferencia de otros enfoques psicoterapéuticos, la teoría sistémica-familiar se centra en principios de comprensión de la interacción humana antes que la problemática que las partes manifiestan. Se entiende que los problemas son necesarios para el cambio de estructuras, por lo que toda modificación no representa en sí misma un problema, sino una reacción ante el medio por su supervivencia de las partes. Se habla de una estructura compleja que guarda sus mecanismos y reglas para perdurar todo lo posible en el tiempo, siendo la consolidación del todo lo que llega a conocer el especialista.
Lynn Hoffman crea esta enciclopedia de autores relacionados a la teoría social-familiar para dejar en claro el marco conceptual de la terapia familiar; terapia que ha ganado notoriedad a raíz del tiempo y que hoy en día es necesaria para diversos casos de la psicología clínica; ya no únicamente para esquizofrénicos o psicóticos, sino para familias con casos con problemas alimenticios, trastornos de personalidad, adicciones o, en casos más leves, problemas de pareja. Y es, además, una cita obligada para la formación de todo psicoterapeuta por su valor investigativo.

[Juan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book i read two time, the first was in the university, and only read some chapters.
But a few years later i found in my old stuff, and i decided to read again, but this time i was read the hole book.

It´s a great book, the information that have this books its gold. The only problem that i see, it's not too easy to undestand some of the concepts. Lynn Hoffman try to make easy but make more confusing the idea.

[Gonzalo Bacigalupe · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best family therapy books!