All couples go through challenging times: some survive and thrive, others don't. How can we understand and use this distinction in the practical application of therapy? In their solution-oriented, competency-based approach to couples therapy, Phillip Ziegler and Tobey Hiller answer this question. In Recreating Partnership, an innovative, theoretically sound, and practical handbook for clinicians, Ziegler and Hiller present a bold and clinically useful concept, the good story/bad story dichotomy. The book shows clinicians how to use this narrative concept in conducting effective and efficient relationship therapy that will help couples build solutions collaboratively, invigorate partnership, and thrive, each in their own unique ways. The book covers issues such as establishing rapport with antagonistic partners; developing therapeutic goals; hosting conversations that reinvigorate the couple's good story; how, when, and whether to offer task assignments; addressing issues such as domestic violence; and how to bring therapy to a close, as well as many cogent and helpful transcripts. Written for psychologists, social workers, marriage and family therapists, and anyone who works with couples, Recreating Partnership will be exciting and useful to both the novice and experienced practitioner.

Focuses on two major themes: the imporvement of teaching practice through collaborative research, and reflection on the process of collaboration itself to understand its role in educational change.

This authoritative handbook provides a definitive overview of the theory and practice of couple therapy. Noted contributors--many of whom developed the approaches they describe--combine clear conceptual exposition with thorough descriptions of therapeutic techniques. In addition to presenting major couple therapy models in step-by-step detail, the book describes effective applications for particular populations and problems. Chapters adhere closely to a uniform structure to facilitate study and comparison, enhancing the book's utility as a reference and text. See also Clinical Casebook of Couple Therapy, also edited by Alan S. Gurman, which presents in-depth illustrations of treatment.

Interventions and Practices in Solution-Focused Approaches provides readers with a plethora of ideas for practicing, training, and enjoying the solution-focused approach in therapy, consulting, supervision, and coaching.

In these tumultuous times, readers will appreciate author Xolani Kacela’s Get a Hold of Yourself, an enriching book for persons seeking spiritual renewal, alignment and integration with their values, and practices that enrich daily living. Get a Hold of Yourself means using the spiritual gifts you possess and others unknown to you for creative living and engaging others who hold different beliefs, values, and spiritual convictions. The book examines faith through the lenses of many religious and secular traditions. Kacela’s writing is intelligent and even-paced, but not preachy. The book begins by defining faith and its implications for future-oriented life choices. Case studies explore the ways people grow from spiritual infancy to develop exemplary faith, an unshakable hope, coping strategy, and the unrelenting conviction that the human spirit can transcend suffering and despair. The author weaves contemporary spiritual practices with mysticism and guides the reader’s perception and experience of transcendence in everyday life. Readers will enjoy this excellent book, be they religious or spiritual, but not religious.

Culture and Identity by Anita Jones Thomas and Sara E. Schwarzbaum engages students with autobiographical stories that show the intersections of culture as part of identity formation. The easy-to-read stories centered on such themes as race, ethnicity, gender, class, religion, sexual orientation, and disability tell the real-life struggles with identity development, life events, family relationships, and family history. The Third Edition includes an expanded framework model that encompasses racial socialization, oppression, and resilience. New discussions of timely topics include race and gender intersectionality, microaggressions, enculturation, cultural homelessness, risk of journey, spirituality and wellness, and APA guidelines for working with transgendered individuals.

Single Session Therapy: A Clinical Introduction to Principles and Practices explores the best ways to use a Single Session Therapy (SST) mindset to better achieve therapeutic goals. This text presents comprehensive ideas and methods on how to make a single session of therapy efficient and effective with individuals, couples, and families, including those of various cultural backgrounds. It emphasizes productive mindsets and includes the following topics: concepts and methods, multi-theoretical approaches, training, various clinical problems and multicultural populations, the latest research findings, access, and implementation. Numerous clinical examples from different expert SST practitioners are presented and discussed throughout. This book is an essential reference for professionals involved in brief therapy practice, research, and teaching.

The best health practices are a synthesis of science and art. Surgery is a case in point. Although all competent surgeons follow scientific protocols, the best surgeons are masters of the art of surgery and produce better outcomes: e.g., smaller incisions; lower mortality rates. Psychotherapists are in exactly the same position. Psychotherapy is both a science and an art. There are excellent resources that convey information about empirically supported practices — the science of psychotherapy. However, this scientific information is incomplete in two important ways. It does not cover key matters that come up in psychotherapy (e.g., building a therapeutic relationship, resistance, termination), and it often does not fully cover the "art" of implementing these techniques, the nuances, the creative ways, the problem solving strategies when difficulties arise. This book is an attempt to have high profile, expert, "master" therapists discuss the art of handling these key issues.

Brief Therapy and Beyond is a collection of new and selected papers by prominent psychologist Michael Hoyt. Numerous clinical vignettes and informative discussions describe time-sensitive treatments to relieve psychological distress and/or promote growth. Drawing from an encyclopedic knowledge of the professional literature as well as humor, poetry, sports, and candid revelation, Hoyt illustrates the importance of stories, language, love, hope, and time in shaping worldviews that inspire and empower clients and clinicians to make effective and efficient changes.