Description
Book SynopsisMulti-generational Family Therapy reveals the limits of the medical model in treating mental and relational problems. It instead provides a toolkit for therapists, observing family functioning over at least three generations to explore the developmental history of the family in order to discover links between past trauma and broken emotional bonds, and current problems experienced by family members. Maurizio Andolfi honours the voices of children in therapy and enlists them as the key to unlocking unresolved family issues.
The book provides an experiential model of intervention that centres on creativity and humanity as the best way to build an alliance and work with a family in crisis. Demonstrating with case examples, Andolfi outlines the relational skills and inner self of the therapist, focusing on the ability to be direct, authentic and emphatic. The use of relational questioning, silence, body language, physical contact and movement in therapy are explored
Trade Review
'This book is a treasure! I welcome it, not least because Maurizio Andolfi has an international reputation as an experienced and inspirational trainer and practitioner, but also because he revisits and reclaims the origins of family therapy and systemic practice, in their conceptual roots in multi-generational family therapy. Whether the legacies of the past are realised in the present or echoes that haunt us, Andolfi reminds us that they are ever present in our therapeutic work with families, and through his many examples from practice, he shows us how to go on.' - Arlene Vetere, PhD, Professor of family therapy and systemic practice. VID Specialized University, Oslo, Norway
'This book is a treasure! I welcome it, not least because Maurizio Andolfi has an international reputation as an experienced and inspirational trainer and practitioner, but also because he revisits and reclaims the origins of family therapy and systemic practice, in their conceptual roots in multi-generational family therapy. Whether the legacies of the past are realised in the present or echoes that haunt us, Andolfi reminds us that they are ever present in our therapeutic work with families, and through his many examples from practice, he shows us how to go on.' - Arlene Vetere, PhD, Professor of family therapy and systemic practice. VID Specialized University, Oslo, Norway
"This book is a good reminder for family therapists about the importance of looking into past generation patterns and how they influence the present state of a family, the importance of self-of-the-therapist work and relational questioning, and the importance of giving more space to children in family therapy" - Ileana Ungureanu, Doody's
Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. THE ROOTS OF RELATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY 2. THE FAMILY LIFE CYCLE AND THE MULTIGENERATIONAL DIMENSION 3. SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION AND NEW FAMILY FORMS 4. FAMILY OBSERVATION METHODS 5. TOWARD AN ASSESSMENT OF FAMILY FUNCTIONING 6. THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE THERAPEUTIC STORY 7. THE LANGUAGE OF THE THERAPEUTIC ENCOUNTER 8. BODY LANGUAGE IN FAMILY THERAPY 9. SILENCE AND TOUCH: TWO POWERFUL WAYS TO CONNECT 10. THE HUMAN DIMENSION IN PSYCHOTHERAPY AND RESEARCH
