Inside Family Therapy: A Case Study in Family Healing

by Michael P. Nichols

Follow a family therapist’s narrative diary as he documents the process of working with the Salazars, as they explore each stage of their relationship-from courtship through the departure of the children from the home. This unique casebook provides an in-depth, personal account from the counselor’s perspective, while also looking at the personal viewpoints of family members. Each major stage of the family life is presented in a separate chapter and the book includes discussions of the effects of gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation on individuals and families.

Genres: Psychology, Counselling

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[Matthew Jandernoa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really I would give this book a 3.5 star rating, but it is by far a worthwhile book to read. It is like a textbook wedged into a case study, very easy to read, and very insightful. As far as textbooks go, 10/10 for how easy to read it is. As for how informational, 6.5/10. More technical information would be helpful but all in all a great book. A couple pages are not so great, but that’s not a biggie to me.

[faith adams-michaels · Rating 3 out of 5]

read for school. creative attempt to use storytelling to illustrate tenets of family therapy. some of it is a little lame, a little outdated, a little not feminist enough, but overall it did integrate the concepts pretty well. again, there should be a section on how cases of abuse alter much of the advice/strategies used in the book- some of this could be dangerous used in cases of abuse.

[Ashley Van Vonderen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part systemic structural theory, part developmental family case study. The author guides you through the family lifespan from love-at-first-sight to nest launching with the commentary of a therapist and the illustrative prose of a novelist. A unique learning experience

[Lewis Wilkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A handy-dandy explanation of dynamics that affect and afflict couples and families through the life-cycle to help you recognize common situations and act in more productive ways.

[Ahri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this for a SW class. I would have preferred an actual textbook.

[Jer El · Rating 4 out of 5]

A family therapist takes you along his own journey of working with a family. His approach, the almost diary like format, and the benefit of his earned knowledge and insight make a unique opportunity as a reader to be taken into the living story of a family.

I am partway through this, and so far so good. It is a unique perspective to have in regards to psychology works, and is an easily accessible format for seeing, comprehending, and witnessing the multi-layer and complex workings of family dynamics.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a long case study, interspersed with theory and shorter case studies about Family Systems. So far, I love it!

[Zoe Barnard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think if you read an entire textbook it should count in the books you read for the year. :)

[Scott Carter]

A fairly good introduction to family systems.

[Gungho · Rating 4 out of 5]

great case study for aspiring therapists