Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003 X. Recent Developments in Family Therapy Power Point presentation prepared by Leslie Barnes-Young, PhD, Francis Marion University “This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of program.”

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003 Theorists, academics, and practitioners are writing about: The trend toward convergence among theories. The need for a model of normal family functioning. –To help identify treatment goals & –To distinguish what is working from what needs to be changed.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003 The growth of family therapy has been exponential! The broad goals of family therapy are to solve problems and reorganize families. Differences between approaches are more evident in theory than in practice. There has been vast cross-fertilization between models.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003 Other developments include– Greater establishment of a professional identity as many states adopt licensure laws specific to the practice of marriage and family therapy.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003 Developments cont. Greater awareness of therapists’ influence on families. Concomitant need to allow them their own self-determination.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003 “Treating families isn’t only a matter of theory and technique, it’s an act of love.” Nichols & Schwartz “Through there experience of how you are with them, clients can experience themselves differently, thus planting the seeds of an alternative story.” Becvar & Becvar

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2003 To find out more about recent developments in family therapy– Visit the American Academy of Family Therapy The National Council on Family Relations