by Karl Gregory and Annie Higgs Gina Smith (Author)
An Integrated Approach to Family Work for Psychosis is a manual for using cognitive behavioural approach to working with families of people with severe mental illness.
The authors, all experienced clinicians, discuss the various core components of family work, including what constitutes family work, when it might be offered, and how and where it might be applied. As well as these core concerns, the authors also look at reframing challenges and overcoming common personal and external barriers to effective family work. Each chapter can be read individually or as part of the integrated manual. The central argument of the book is that family work must be individualised and it offers a clear approach to engaging and working with families to ensure that this happens, including guidance on how to link components of a service user's plan with their family's strengths and strategies for reducing stress. The book addressed both theory and practice, and concentrates on the experience of mental illness for the service user and their family, providing a focus for intervention.
Exploring family work as an integrated psychosocial and educational support strategy, this manual will increase the confidence and competence of new family workers - mental health workers, social workers, psychiatrists, psychologists - and broaden the knowledge of those already working in the area.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 208
Edition: 1
Publisher: Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Published: 12 Mar 2007
ISBN 10: 1843103699
ISBN 13: 9781843103691
` There is much to commend the value of this clear and concise book to all social work practitioners. It is written by health workers who highlight outcome-based research (from 1958) and identify a correlation between the `recovery' of patients who had been hospitalised with psychosis and the culture of the family they return to.'
Professional Social Work
` This book is written by experienced clinicians with a genuine passion, enthusiasm and commitment to working with families. It is clear that they have been attempting for years to implement a family approach to care. Their attitude to families is without fault - emphatic, humble, respectful of their feelings, experiences, and strengths. It is confirmed by glowing testimonials from family members who have benefited from their help. Their book advocates a non-prescriptive, non-formulaic approach to family work that is individualised and flexible.'
-- The British Journal of Psychiatry