Contemporary family therapy in the United States |
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| Authors: | Douglas H. Sprenkle Gary P. Bischof |
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| Affiliation: | Professor and Director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program, Department of Child Development and Family Studies, Purdue University, MFT Building, 523 Russell St, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.;Gary P. Bischof is a doctoral student in the same program. |
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| Abstract: | Major issues in contemporary family therapy in the United States are described. Issues from outside the field impacting family therapy include health care reform, family 'values', multiple forms of 'family', and the growing aging population. Issues within the field include the challenge of social construction theory, the decline of the expert, the feminist critique, sensitivity to culture, rediscovering individuals within families, focus on strengths and resources, a both–and attitude toward collaboration with other professionals, emphasis upon the person of the therapist, and convergence of 'schools' of family therapy. Therapists in the United States are also opening up the private process of therapy through reflecting teams, including clients in therapist thinking, multi-family groups, and through psychoeducational groups. Finally, attempts to bridge the gap between research and practice are analyzed. |
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