Treating Family of Origin Problems: A Cognitive Approach

by Richard C. Bedrosian

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Author: Richard C. Bedrosian

Publisher: The Guilford Press

Hardcover:
ISBN 10: 089862178X
ISBN 13: 978-0898621785

This groundbreaking volume shows how the clarity and discipline of cognitive therapy can be applied to the treatment of family of origin issues, such as alcoholism and incest, without compromising depth and clinical sophistication. Compared to the plethora of books on adult children of dysfunctional families, this work is unique in its use of an integrative cognitive model and structured techniques. The book also shows how ideas highlighted in other orientations--from family therapy to Twelve-Step and "Recovery" programs--can be translated into cognitive terms and incorporated into a cognitive approach. Realistically conveying the complex nature of the treatment process, this book presents the diverse elements of successful therapy not as narrow, rote strategies, but as concepts that can be applied in a wide variety of cases.

Treating Family Of Origin Problems begins with a discussion of the characteristics of dysfunctional families and an overview of the cognitive model. Subsequent chapters explore coping strategies, goals of recovery and treatment, diagnostic considerations, and assessment of family of origin issues. Ways in which the therapist's own family of origin issues and the therapist's posture can influence the treatment process are addressed in a discussion of various metacommunicative elements that can affect the client's ability to use treatment constructively.

Throughout, illustrative clinical material shows how clinicians can utilize embedded messages and other techniques to circumvent resistance; confront various types of acting-out behavior while remaining in a supportive, collaborative posture; and provide a consistent focus in treatment, highlighting the underlying mechanisms that cause distress without becoming mired in unproductive attention to the presenting symptoms. The volume concludes with discussions of building coping strategies, utilizing relationship material, and variations in the recovery process.

Written for mental health professionals from a wide variety of disciplines and theoretical backgrounds, Treating Family Of Origin Problems will provide clinicians who have had little or no exposure to cognitive therapies with a guide to formulating an active treatment plan that can be sustained over time. Cognitive therapists will benefit from the book's illustration of how the cognitive approach can be expanded to embrace key concepts from other treatment orientations. An extremely comprehensive and detailed work, this volume is an ideal text for courses in cognitive therapy, behavior therapy, and integrative psychotherapy, as well as general courses in psychotherapy.

Review

"....The book in general is excellent and is certainly the first of its kind in the cognitive therapy literature...." --Frank M. Dattilio, Ph.D. in Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly

"For the advanced student and practicing therapist, the book presents a well articulated approach for working with a 'difficult' population.... And, as a bonus, the reader discovers a treasure of accumulated clinical wisdom, useful to the clinician irrespective of theoretical orientation!" --J. Laurence Passmore, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN

"This book was a pleasure to read, to study, and to review. I've already begun to utilize it in my own work." --Rev. Jon R. Harris in an unpublished review for Journal of Psychology & Christianity

"Drs. Bedrosian and Bozicas also offer a model for assessing the current manifestations of family of origin problems so that, despite a historical focus, treatment can still be geared toward the individual's present-day complaints. This practical orientation should make the book invaluable...."
--From the Foreword by Aaron T. Beck, M.D.

"Bedrosian and Bozicas have written an important and timely volume that integrates the overlapping wisdom of cognitive therapy, developmental psychopathology, and family therapy. It is thorough, practical, and well worth reading. I recommend it highly." --Michael J. Mahoney, Ph.D., Professor, University of North Texas

"At last, someone has made explicit the link between cognitive therapy and family systems-oriented therapy. And, after a seemingly unending spate of recent books about adult victims and survivors that just shoot from the hip, Bedrosian and Bozicas show us in exquisite and persuasive detail how mainstream psychology, psychiatry, and family therapy should inform the responsible treatment of people with such problems. Simply put, this book is one of the most rational and creative pieces of work in psychotherapy in the last several years. Read it--you'll learn a lot!" --Alan S. Gurman, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin Medical School

"The profound influence of family of origin trauma in the lives of our clients is well known in the family therapy field. There has been a compelling need for a cogent treatment model for adult clients from dysfunctional families. This book fills the bill. It provides a hands-on, easily used treatment method for working with individuals from dysfunctional family backgrounds....The book carefully and creatively addresses the complicated clinical questions of how to integrate family of origin work into symptom-focused treatment, and how to help clients develop new beliefs that can free them from old destructive distortions....I found this book immediately applicable for several of my most difficult cases. I think you will too." --David Treadway, Ph.D.

"...a wonderful, richly textured volume about the practice and process of psychotherapy...this book will be an invaluable one to cognitive therapists and family systems therapists alike. "

, Clinician's Social Work Journal Published On: 1994-01-09

From the Back Cover

This groundbreaking volume shows how the clarity and discipline of cognitive therapy can be applied to the treatment of family of origin issues, such as alcoholism and incest, without compromising depth and clinical sophistication. Unique in its use of an integrative cognitive model and structured techniques, the book shows how ideas highlighted in other orientations - from family therapy to Twelve-Step and "Recovery" programs - can be translated into cognitive terms and incorporated into a cognitive approach. Realistically conveying the complex nature of the treatment process, it presents the diverse elements of successful therapy as concepts and techniques that can be applied in a wide variety of cases. Treating Family of Origin Problems begins with a discussion of the characteristics of dysfunctional families and an overview of the cognitive model. Subsequent chapters explore coping strategies, goals of recovery and treatment, diagnostic considerations, and assessment of family of origin issues. Ways in which the therapist's own family of origin issues and the therapist's posture can influence the treatment process are addressed in a discussion of various metacommunicative elements that can affect the client's ability to use treatment constructively. Throughout, illustrative clinical material shows how clinicians can utilize embedded messages and other techniques to circumvent resistance; confront various types of acting-out behavior while remaining in a supportive, collaborative posture; and provide a consistent focus in treatment. The volume concludes with discussions of building coping strategies, utilizing relationship material, and variations in the recovery process. Written formental health professionals from a wide variety of disciplines and theoretical backgrounds, Treating Family of Origin Problems will provide clinicians who have had little or no exposure to cognitive therapies with a guide to formulating an active treatment plan that can be sustained over time. Cognitive therapists will benefit from the book's illustration of how the cognitive approach can be expanded to embrace key concepts from other treatment orientations. Extremely comprehensive and detailed, it is an ideal text for courses in cognitive therapy, behavior therapy, and integrative psychotherapy, as well as general courses in psychotherapy.

About the Author

Richard C. Bedrosian, Ph.D., is Director of Bedrosian Associates, a group psychology practice in Leominster Massachusetts, and teaches regularly in the Professional Development Program at the Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology. He received training in family and marital therapy at the Philadelphia Child Guidance Clinic, and served as Clinical and Research Coordinator at Dr. Aaron T. Beck's Center for Cognitive Therapy at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also held a faculty appointment. Coeditor of New Directions in Cognitive Therapy, Dr. Bedrosian has published extensively on such topics as depression, suicide, marital violence, adolescence, and family interaction patterns.

George D. Bozicas, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist in private practice with Bedrosian Associates in Leominister, Massachusetts. He received his training at the Boston Veterans Administration Medical Center. An instructor in the Counseling Psychology Program at Assumption College, Dr. Bozicas is active in workshop presentations and consultations to schools and community groups.

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