Describes case study in which family systems approach to treating childhood encopresis based on the hypothesis that problematic elements of the family system were contributing to the encopresis. Nuclear family members were included in a family counseling process that used strategic homework, predictions about family behavior, and restructuring…

Describes family sculpting as a widely used family assessment tool which enables family members to construct a living picture of their relationships at a given point in time by arranging family members in space. Introduces the concept of family sculpting using a flannel board, which is often less threatening and more manageable for many family…

Asserts that therapeutic ritual becomes metaphorical encounter for family in counseling in that it suggests process the family can engage in to help members to indirectly resolve a presenting complaint, a transition in family life, or a transition in counseling. Presents a case that illustrates a collectively designed ritual that metaphorically…

Challenges Russell and Morrill's (1989) assertion that a practical blending of Rational Emotive Therapy (RET) and systemic family therapy is possible. Cautions that a connection between these approaches be made only with an appreciation and respect for these schools' epistemological differences and correspondingly disparate cognitive change…

Discusses helpful ways for mental health counselors to work with infertile clients, explaining nature of infertility, psychological crisis it provokes, common reactions of infertile clients, and strategies to help clients cope. Discusses specific strategies for assessing clients' potential for suicide or self-destructive acts and improving their…

Presents a family systems perspective on wife battering and treatment implications for mental health counselors. Focuses on the processes and interrelatedness between events and people in a battering relationship. Discusses some of salient literature on wife battering from an individual perspective and suggests that future models and theories…

Notes that Millon's biopsychosocial model asserts that socioenvironmental factors of parental or peer rejection may shape development of avoidant behavior but does not elaborate on how family system may perpetuate its existence once disorder has evolved. Presents brief overview of avoidant behavior and strategic family therapy case study.…

Describes one family therapist's experience in dealing with a difficult family in a counseling setting. Describes the difficulty in working with a resistant client and explains how the therapist worked to overcome that resistance. (NB)

Provides practical review of selected methods of counseling from constructivist orientation: use of repertory grid technique, metaphorical constructions, family transaction procedure, system "bow ties," and various enactment procedures. Provides examples of methods in counseling contexts and further references to additional illustrations…

Examines Russell and Morrill's proposal to integrate rational-emotive therapy (RET) and systemic family therapy by combining RET's disputation and Mental Research Institute's reframing. Contrasts RET's disputation and Mental Research Institute's reframing across key clinical issues. Suggests that models combining these schools' techniques be…

Reviews literature on complex ethical and legal issues that may arise in counseling families (defining the client, welfare and rights of individuals versus those of family system, informed consent and manipulative therapeutic techniques, family members who refuse to participate, confidentiality, and family values). Concludes with specific…

Counseling that involves the entire family has the potential to motivate children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), improve the children's self-concept, and help them improve social skills or functioning. Probable causes, family patterns, effects of ADD on family interactions, counseling issues, and a multidimensional treatment approach are…

Describes home-based family therapy as form of family counseling performed within residences of clients. Discusses obstacles to home-based therapy, then presents examples illustrating challenge of providing home-based counseling to religious, abusive families. Also illustrates use of consultation to improve service delivery. (NB)

Examines the role of mental health counselors in the evaluation of families for child custody disputes. Suggests that even though child custody evaluation requires specialized knowledge, expertise, and experience, it can become a rewarding aspect of a mental health counselor's practice. (LLL)

Describes homosexual male counselor's experiences as marriage, family, and child counselor. Claims, because of counselor's comfort and openness to alternative roles, parenting situations, and identities, client couples are freed to dialogue about making role changes. Concludes homophobia often obscures valuable contributions homosexual men and…