Becoming an Effective Family Therapist

This book explores the link between the effectiveness of the family therapist and the complexity of the therapeutic relationship.

For family therapists the therapeutic alliance is complex because there are different family members, and the therapist must have an empathic relationship with each of them. Furthermore, the therapist is focused on facilitating the development of trust between the family members.

The book highlights the family therapist not as an interventionist but as someone who is focused on establishing a good relationship with different family members. It includes research and theory as well as case studies, exploring topics such as: the therapist’s emotion regulation, the therapist’s inner dialogue, and dealing with client feedback.

The main idea is simple but important: the goal of family therapy is not healing, but connection. A family therapist knows that connection heals. Connection also protects against suffering in the future. This book is essential for beginning and seasoned family therapists, systemic therapists, and graduate students. 

Endorsements

“Peter Rober offers us a profound, thoughtful and compassionate exploration and description of how we become an effective family therapist for today’s families and communities. Peter’s wisdom and love of his work shines through every page of this practical textbook.”

Arlene Vetere, VID Specialized University, Oslo, Norway

“In this superb book, Peter Rober helps the reader understand the essence of effective family therapy. Filled with instructive and moving clinical vignettes, and with many easily applied methods, this is the best book I know for the today’s beginning family therapist and a must read for everyone else.”

Jay L. Lebow, Family Institute at Northwestern and Northwestern University

“An efficient and passionate book, written from the front lines of psychotherapy. Necessary book for everyone who is learning to do family therapy; essential book for those who really want to BE a family therapist.”

Valentín Escudero, Research Center for Systemic Interventions, University of A Coruña, Spain; director of the Family Therapy Program for Children and Adolescents at Risk 

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