The Family Crucible

by Augustus Y. Napier, Carl A. Whitaker

Stated to be the " The Intense Expiriensce of Family Therapy"

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Counselling, Mental Health, Grad School, School, Family

320 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1977

Reviews

[Jennifer James · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book because I'm going to be teaching a family therapy course where this is required reading. As I worked through the first few chapters, I was struck by how unworkable the author's approach was in any therapeutic setting I've ever worked in, so I flipped to the copyright date and realized it was written in 1978. Keeping that in mind was helpful as I went through the rest of the book, but I found myself struggling with almost every aspect of the author's approach to therapy, including the tone taken with the patients, the handling of sessions, and some extremely odd things that happened, such as a therapist wrestling a 10 year old boy to the ground and then sitting on him. That seems like an excellent way to get sued and lose a therapy license in my book. Also, I found the author to be quite sexist, which may be appropriate for the time, but was off-putting. He talked about admiring a 15 year old girl's breasts, and discussed wrinkles and the weight of the older women. He never mentioned any of these things about the men. All in all, I didn't think it was a helpful guide or depiction of being a therapist. Here and there, I found some helpful gems of wisdom that I felt continued to hold true, but mostly, I felt the book was outdated and rather bizarre.

[Gianna DiPietro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a lot more interesting than I initially thought it would be. I found myself really enjoying the process of family therapy from start to finish. The parts that I didn’t enjoy however, and felt a little bit dull to me, was all the background info and history of the psychology itself and the origins. I found it a lot more free flowing when reading the chapters that discussed the Brice family specifically. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody who is interested in the field of psychology or has ever been involved in therapy themselves.

[Austin Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author did a great job of taking a scholastic topic and illustrating it with artistic language and presenting it in such a way that is consumable by the average reader. I am a Psychology major so of course I loved the book: the insights into personal behavior and personality, the confounding effects of group interaction, and the well-placed intellectual side notes. It is well written and a fascinating read. If you take the time, I can almost guarantee that you will learn something about yourself and/or your family. Hopefully (ideally), you will finish being better suited to have a healthy relationship.

With that said, I don't completely agree with everything the authors say. Being family therapists, they blame all negative pattern cycles on an individual's past family experiences, from their family of origin. This is a deterministic perspective because it assumes that we cannot TRULY control our own behavior. We are merely the result of our parents teaching us to behave in certain ways. Likewise, we cannot blame our parents for raising us poorly because they are the result of their parents parenting, and so on and so on.

[Erin Kibler · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was required reading for my family systems class in a CMHC program. The only things that were beneficial in this book were the discussions of triangulation and how relationship patterns can be passed down through generations. All of the other content—the therapists not using a theory to guide their sessions, highlighting the female clients’ appearances, wrestling the child client (!!!), and the conceptualization of the fam’s problems using the sexual drive theory—did not resonate with me or feel helpful as a newbie in this field.

[Caitlin Reyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely some ethical dilemmas in the way these practitioners treat their clients, including questionable comments made about a teenage girl's body and a physical altercation between Dr. Whitaker and one of the clients. Despite these, Napier and Whitaker show a masterful approach toward family therapy, involving each client in the process, allowing the system to be questioned, and ultimately enabling them to live a more honest and happier life together.

[heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This knocked my socks off. I may have a paper to write on it now, but I think this story will be on my mind for a long time. As others have mentioned, some tidbits have not aged well, but the text is incredibly insightful on the whole.

[Sophia Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

For understanding what family therapy is all about, this is the one. I find myself tremendously hopeful reading about this level of deep systemic work, whatever trappings seem to date this particular account. I also feel incredibly daunted by the task of helping family members learn to be their own individual persons, so that they can come together in a closer, more free and more genuinely real sense. I anticipate coming back to this one, both for my clinical work and especially my own marriage.

And it’s a page turner!!!

[Nicholas Poveda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book should certainly be essential reading for anyone who wants to be a marriage and family therapist! Though it’s obvious that this book is dated (for instance, you would never sit on your client today!) and was written at a time when MFT was not popular, there are certainly some tidbits in this book that are useful even today.

[Julia Cieślak]

Przepraszam, ale DNF od momentu, gdy terapeuta zamyślił się na temat biustu NIEPEŁNOLETNIEJ PACJENTKI… Za bardzo czuć to, że książka była napisana jakieś 50 lat temu, mocno zaburza mi to odbiór, bo zachowanie terapeutów nieustannie mnie szokuje - (moim zdaniem) wiele tekstów dzisiaj by nie przeszło. Może jeszcze wrócę do fragmentów rozmów, bo mimo wszystko czuję się jakbym ich podsłuchiwała i ekscytuje mnie to. Zostawiam na półce z przeczytanymi

[Rachael Madden-Connor · Rating 2 out of 5]

At times I questioned the appropriateness of the therapists' interventions, as well as their professionalism and sense of boundaries. The book, however, is quite engrossing and at times, a page turner. August Napier goes a little overboard sometimes with his use of metaphor. As a counseling student, it was incredible to read about the transformation of a family's system over a two-year period.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted to give this book 5 stars, as it is a really easy-to-read glimpse into how family therapy works, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it as there are some items that are too outdated and inappropriate that should have been considered or addressed when it was reprinted in 2017. I do think it holds a lot of value and pulls back the curtain on therapy for the layperson if someone is interested in seeing therapy from inside the therapist's mind.

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting look into the wild west of family therapy. Although it rests on speculative theoretical frameworks it is still interesting to see the effect the indicated therapeutic interventions can have. It would have been even more interesting had the family written a book on their experience but as a 1st person account of the therapist's experience, it really is a fascinating and hopeful read.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very interesting. It is a bit old and outdated, but I loved the uniqueness of it. This is a required book for one of my classes and I was super skeptical about the whole idea and new (to me) concepts like co-therapists and family therapy in general. But I loved it. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand family systems and the therapeutic process!

[Delaney Wild · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading an example of family systems therapy in context, you get to really feel how the therapist thinks about family as a system. However, it was Old White Man therapy writing, so it is based on a rich, white, heterosexual family and it is hard to imagine the same writers talking about a different family.

[chasemp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super interesting and impactful description of the why and what of Family oriented therapy. Systems benefit from being addressed as a functional whole.

[Marieka Drovin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my all-time favorite book. It’s incredibly fascinating and genuinely heartwarming. Just… wow.

[Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to agree with my professor, this book should be required reading for anyone thinking of working with families. It is unique from other case studies in that it is told from the counselor's view. There are also chapters throughout that explain different aspects and theoretical information about working with families because it does present a very different dynamic. And, most importantly, it shows that the counselors are human. They struggle with their own emotions and counter-transference. Sometimes they don't know what to say or if what they do say was said at the proper time or in the proper context. That is even more significant when you consider these are professionals with years of experience. The family presented in the book is also a "typical" family with common problems, which makes the content more widely applicable. I appreciated that throughout the text Napier takes breaks from the family sessions to go more in depth about specific problems, such as divorce or infidelity, and expand upon them from a clinical perspective.

The only draw back is this book was written in the 1980's so it is a bit outdated and the reader should be cautious about some of the techniques used in the book. In some circumstances it is a "do not do as I do, but learn from my example" scenario. If you are considering a career in the social sciences, especially family therapy, then read this book!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first thing I used to think when I heard the phrase "case study" was "snooze fest." In The Family Crucible, the story and information presented is anything but sleepy. I never would have chosen this book on my own, but am certainly glad it was assigned for my couples and family counseling course this term. I was drawn into the Brice family from the first page and had difficulty putting the book down. The knowledge and insights that Napier and Whitaker share about emotional distress and it's correlation with the family system is fascinating to say the least. I feel like a smarter person for reading this book. I definitely have a great understanding of myself, and feel as though I have a great understanding of humankind and family relations in general. If you are interested in transgenerational patterns of behavior, or just a great read, I highly recommend reading this book. I'd give it more than 5 stars if I could!

[Brandt · Rating 3 out of 5]

However thoroughly ideas and theory are presented, there is bound to be questionable doubt about their efficacy in practice. No more does this problem present consistently than in the realm of psychotherapy. Nevertheless, skepticism and doubt may be viewed as beneficial reactions to any assertion presented without significant and necessary research. Additionally, the issue of methods in research, and the intense inevitability of quantifiable metrics may result in either an over-mechanization or an under-appreciation of the complexity involved within the theoretical realm. Such is the case with this tremendously valuable text.

Originally published in 1977, the text is robust in experiential language yet lacking in quantitative verification. Regardless, the techniques and methods utilized and explained throughout the example of a family case study are richly humanistic and detailed exemplars of the complex quality of the therapeutic encounter. Whereas individual therapy may be appropriate for the person who wants to be comfortable with themselves, family therapy – as expressed throughout the text – serves the function of supporting the individual in learning to live with others. Hence, before a person can be ready for the psychological change required in individual therapy, they may first need to be unshackled from the controlling mechanism accentuated by the symbiotic family milieu.

In initially approaching this text, I will readily acknowledge that I place a passionate emphasis on individuality and the freedom of choice. Notwithstanding this comportment, I remained open to the approach through which the experiential attitude to family counseling magnifies the position of the individual in their lived world. Whereas freedom (autonomy) and choice (responsibility), in my opinion, are extremely essential aspects of the counseling process, I detected that I may have overlooked the important function that the family serves in constructing and sustaining the structures through which the individual has become themselves. Therefore, uncovering the structure, the tone, and the patterns involved in the family system, may be more significant than the resultant problem presenting in the individual. This leads to an important question that, up until this point of my studies, I have neglected to ask; viz., “are all individual psychotherapy patients simply scapegoats of family stress” (Napier & Whitaker, 1988, p.55)? Generally, I comprehend this text to be an attempt at affirmatively answering this question.

In deliberating how the preceding question may be answered affirmatively, the text begins by clarifying the structures of the family systems theory and expands this understanding to a statement of the generative presentation of the basic conflict that,

Every family is a miniature society, a social order with its own rules, structure, leadership, language, style of living, zeitgeist. The hidden rules, the subtle nuances of language, the private rituals and the dances that define every family as a unique microculture may not be easy for an outsider to perceive at first glance, but they are there (Napier & Whitaker, 1988, p.79).

Consequently, in almost every family, certain general patterns emerge (1) intrapersonal, interpersonal, and acute situational stress; (2) polarization and escalation; (3) triangulation; (4) blaming; (5) diffusion of identity; and, (6) stasis. Each of these patterns is explained through the lens of the experiential approach to family therapy, and each of these general patterns supports the foundational query that the individual is the scapegoat for the family.

Ultimately, the therapeutic argument presented by the text culminates in identifying decisive moments when people’s lives shift. Occasionally, these shifts are imperceptible by others but represent substantial progress within the individual. Nevertheless, these shifts do not originate from within an individual therapist, nor do they have a genesis from within the family conceptualization. However, these influential shifts may best be understood and experienced through the process of family therapy. For example, when transformation happens (individual therapy), those outside of the therapeutic relationship may not be aware of the importance of the shift, nor may they be accepting of the accompanying change.

However, when this shift happens, in the presence of significant others (the family), it may be more easily recognized as part of the process of becoming and accepted as a pivotal breakthrough in the development of individuation. Additionally, there is a principal maxim of family therapy that further supports the above assertions, “the family will try to do to the therapist what they do to each other” (Napier & Whitaker, 1988, p.182). This means that the family system, whether unconsciously or unwittingly, will attempt to pull the therapist into their operational world; “The pattern one knows is…the pattern one knows” (Napier & Whitaker, 1988, p. 222). Further, “One of the ways we try and resolve the problems that we inherit from our families is to repeat them when we grow up and form our own families” (Napier & Whitaker, 1988, p. 258).

Ultimately, for the interested reader, the interwoven account of therapy and technique reveals the complex, raw, and enigmatic side of humanity. The interposition of general theoretical discussions into the case narrative seamlessly flows together. Consequently, this text is one that I can feel comfortable in recommending to a wide array of people (not just therapists) and, at the same time, keep as a professional reference.

Happy Reading!

References:

Napier, A.Y. & Whitaker, C. (2002). The family crucible. New York, NY: Quill.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an excellent case study that starts off reading like a completely normal, upper middle class suburban white family with plenty of money to spend on therapy only to find out that family therapy was expertly used to get at some very complicated dynamics that appear very normal and average.

Husband and wife don't have sex and barely know each other, husband works too hard, wife is bored, teenagers are talking back and sneaking out. Seemed like the life they chose to me. But, it wasn't the life they wanted, and they each had to take responsibility to work at playing a different part to make a different dynamic.

This case study provides an example of an exquisite intervention.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a compilation of various family therapy experiences condensed into the drama of one hypothetical family, the Brices. The dialogue of their therapy sessions is realistic, at times humorous and heartbreaking all at once. I feel deep respect for the wisdom evident in the co-therapy team who is featured in this case. Both Dr. Napier and Whitaker teach viewpoints that can help anybody see life in a new perspective. The story would be inspiring to any casual reader, but especially meaningful to those who have a background or interest in therapy of some kind (whether as clients, students, or counselors, etc.) The text ends with a great feeling of hope and optimism for the success of marriages and families everywhere.

[Veronica Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

The textbook version of Carl Whitaker's experiential approach to therapy is evidently difficult to conceptualize and understand, but The Family Crucible brings it to life. Whitaker and Napier, surely criticized widely for their unconventional and seemingly insane techniques, seem to navigate through the roles of chaperone, leader, loony uncle, and wise friend effortlessly. The most notable quality of their approach is that it challenges traditional notions of the therapist-client relationship by humanizing the therapist to an admittedly uncomfortable degree and allowing the experience to be a mutually shared and giving one. The book itself was therapeutic to say the least; it'll change your perception of what it means to be a family and what it means to have a family "problem."

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this on the recommendation of my mom. I didn't know what to expect, but I was delightfully surprised in that it presents family therapy in context of one family's experience in the process. The first 2/3 are a compelling read, but end of the book gets a little technical which did not appeal to me as much. Having grown up in a dysfunctional home (I admit that freely now) I saw patterns exposed that I recognized from my own home- "two parents are emotionally estranged from each other, and in their terrible aloneness they overinvolve their children in their emotional distress." It won't fix your problems, but might help your perspective.

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading The Family Crucible for my marriage and family therapy class this semester. This is one of those books that shows you how much can go right or wrong based on your family history. It's a very good introduction to family therapy and has a helpful guide in the back of the book if you have questions about family therapy. It also does a wonderful job explaining how humans are social creatures and how much our social bonds can influence our behavior and personality. Highly recommended for people interested in psychology and marriage and family therapy.

[Madeline Carr · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very interesting look into intense family therapy as Whitaker utilizes unusual approaches in co-practicing psychotherapy. I’m not a huge fan of the approaches he uses as he makes a point to provoke anxiety by asking very pointed questions and enables conflict. I don’t really see why it was consistently relevant to talk about the client’s breasts within his book, like, this shouldn’t be a significant note within treatment. Anywho, interesting approaches, not my favorite therapist as he seems to take a more Gestalt approach to therapy and also has shown inappropriate misuse of terminology.

[Lezlee Hays · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful look at family therapy and an experiential approach, but also weirdly 70's in a way that feels almost anachronistic yet isn't. The author seems almost a smidge too in love with himself and the approach but you kind of forgive it because it feels like they've earned their odd paternalistic attitude and again, it's the 70s and psychiatrists still do psychotherapy and smoke during the session.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don't get to hear about psychotherapy/analysis much anymore with the more recent models of therapy being so popular, but I am a bit of a traditionalist and very much appreciate the insights that are revealed through these experts in family psychotherapy. I understand more succinctly now, about the role our families of origin play out through our lives and how helpful it can be to acknowledge and bring to light those ways- some more damaging than others.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had to read this for school. It turned out to be a pretty good book. It is a great example of experiential family therapy with a family. I was surprised how much I enjoyed since it was something for an assignment. For anyone interested in this subject matter whether you are studying to be a family therapist or are just curious, this is a great choice.

[Ashley Huehn · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was some interesting information, here, but, overall, it came off as creepy, unethical, and unprofessional. On many occasions, the author sexualizes the 15-year-old child client, as well as her mother, and demonstrates a complete lack of respect for his clients. I have no idea why an editor thought this was okay.

[Kate Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vital reading for someone who married young and is now divorcing. Oy, if I had only known.