The Association for Family Therapy 2000.

Published by Blackwell Publishers, 108 Cowley

Road, Oxford, OX4 1JF, UK and 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148, USA.
Journal of Family Therapy (2000) 22: 441446
01634445

Book Reviews
Dallos, R. and Draper, R., An Introduction to Family Therapy: Systemic Theory
and Practice. Buckingham, Open University Press, 2000. 252 pp. Price
18.99 (paperback).
In her introduction to this long awaited book, Lynn Hoffman comments
that this is the single most useful book on systemic therapies to appear to
date. I would like to make some similar points, albeit in a more restrained,
British way! The national connection is significant when holding this book
in mind, because the authors themselves state that they want to write from
a British perspective. Their reason is not only that systemic therapy and
practice is alive and well . . . in Britain but also that British practitioners
have the capacity to creatively adapt ideas to various contexts (p. xiv). To
contextualize the book even more, a bibliography of British family therapy
texts is included in the Appendices.
This is a thorough and useful introductory text that has a clear structure
with many innovative sections. The first three chapters chart the story of
family therapy which the authors have divided into three phases. Rather
than adopt a first order/second order/new wave division, these chapters
rely on the dates at which theoretical changes came into the field. Thus
these chapters follow chronologically from the 1950s to the 1970s, from
the 1970s to the 1980s and from the 1980s to the present day. This way of
approaching the evolution of family therapy enables the authors to
comment on the continuities between theories and practice rather than
repeat a story of radical difference and dichotomy. Not surprisingly therefore, at the end of every chapter methods and ideas that informed the next
phase are reviewed.
This emphasis on integration is encapsulated in Chapter 4, which
addresses those ideas which many family therapies hold in common: ideas
that keep knocking on the door. The book is therefore implicitly establishing the space for the integration of family therapy schools rather than
pigeon-holing them into the typologies that we have heard about before.
What makes this book unusual is that within this architecture of history,
it also provides short skill guides after every chapter which can serve as
revision for established therapists and practical introductions for the
novice. Moreover, the Appendices provide topic reading lists for the application of family therapy to many problems as well as specific guidelines for
use in difficult situations. An example of the latter is a format for an
exploration with disappointed clients which consists of a number of questions and themes that may be helpful in such a situation. These qualities
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Book Reviews

make this book a resource for all family therapists and systemic practitioners, while its varied structure avoids the tome-like quality of many other
often American resources.
The book is written with family therapy students in mind. It therefore
includes one of the best introductions to family therapy research I have
read. This addition meets a requirement of such an introductory text,
although it doesnt quite fit the historical structure of the book. Nevertheless, with sections on evaluation, process and theory research, this chapter
will be essential reading for tutors and students alike.
Although labelled as an introductory text, Dallos and Draper make
explicit the contingencies that lead them to construct the story of family
therapy into three phases. They acknowledge that this description is merely
a punctuation and a map (not the territory) and so implicitly invite readers to provide a double description of the same story. This might propose
that their first and second phases were not so dissimilar, or that the third
phase has transcended systemic therapy altogether. In their own introduction, they even hint at another way of describing the evolution of family
therapy of the gradual rapprochement with intrapsychic therapies.
Another contingency imposed by the structure of the book, with its
concentration on the story of family therapy, was that the versatility and
creativity of systemic practice itself became subordinate. Despite the
acknowledgement about the variety of practice noted above, this book is
more about family therapy theory and practice. As such it perhaps underplays the work of systemic practitioners who do not practice as family therapists but as social workers, nurses, GPs or psychologists.
Undoubtedly, this book will stimulate and influence many practitioners.
It is an accessible and thorough introductory text. Indeed I can imagine
quotations being taken from it as the basis for academic essays. For example: Therapy is seen as a mutually validating conversation from which
change can occur (p. 107). Discuss this statement as a description of
constructionist therapies! Mark Rivett (Lecturer in Family Therapy and
Systemic Practice, University of Bristol).
Gill Gorell Barnes, Family Therapy in Changing Times. Macmillan,
Basingstoke, 1998, in the series Basic Texts in Counselling and
Psychotherapy, Series Editor, Stephen Frosh. Price 11.95.
This series of books aims to introduce readers to the theory and practice
of counselling and psychotherapy. Gorell Barnes draws on her considerable experience as therapist and researcher here, interweaving a rich mix
of research, transcripts from therapy sessions and systemic and family
therapy ideas. This is all in pursuit of doing justice to the task of understanding and appreciating the influences of diverse family forms.
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As the title suggests, the book identifies the 1990s to be a time of change
which demands a response from those who theorize in this area and aim
to help families directly. Gorell Barnes shows with precision how the practitioner can develop their ideas to inform a sensitive practice which is
appreciative of such diversity. The starting point in each chapter is not
theory so much as aspects of families lives which appear to be more of an
issue in the 1990s than in previous decades. This includes exploration of
how lives are affected by migration, divorce, stepfamilies, violence, mental
illness and sexual abuse. Where the theory is drawn in, it includes a wide
range of ideas and is made directly relevant to the issue in hand.
I enjoyed reading this book, and the word which keeps occurring to me
to describe it is rich. I had a sense that it was a text I would need to come
back to regularly to absorb what it has to offer. Appreciating diversity is
something practitioners struggle to do throughout the journey of their
working lives, and here Gorell Barnes provides several helpful signposts.
Under the circumstances, calling the book basic or an introduction may
not seem entirely appropriate to me and yet it would seem essential to
include such literature as part of introductory training for those involved
in work with families.
I have already found the book especially helpful in teaching for clinical
psychologists, when trying to promote a respectful approach to diverse
ways of living and helping therapists get their therapy to fit the needs of
the clients rather than the other way round. It was both enjoyable and an
education, and I would recommend this book. David Spellman (Consultant
Clinical Psychologist, Burnley).
Judy Hildebrand, Bridging the Gap, A Training Module in Personal and Professional Development. London, Karnac, 1998. 100 pp. Price 13.00.
I am surprised that this small but exceptionally important book has not
been reviewed before. As I hypothesized about why not (I still do hypothesize sometimes, even though it may be considered very first order) I
wondered if it has been perceived as a book specifically targeting the audience of trainers, teachers and supervisors in the family therapy field. While
it is possible, and likely, that Judy Hildebrand wrote it with this particular
community in mind, I would contend that her book is necessary reading
for all in the family therapy world, and could also be useful for counsellors
and psychotherapists in general.
Judy Hildebrand carefully and thoroughly explores the question that
still divides family therapists: Should we all have personal psychotherapy as
a part of our training and, if so, what kind or orientation? She clearly states
her belief that we should, but then analyses the difficulties, complexities
and advantages of including the family and/or network of significant
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Book Reviews

others. While it is good that such a democratic debate is happening, and

multiple voices are heard, Hildebrand has not waited for the right or
best solution (is there one for all?) but has offered something relevant
and useful for the here and now, or should I say, then and there, as she has
drawn on her experience of teaching modules in personal and professional development (PPD) on training courses in the first half of the
1990s.
The first seven chapters of the book describe the module: its aims and
rationale, the use of self-reflexivity and the structure of the module in two
institutions, which differed considerably. Hildebrand discusses the group
context of the training and stages of the group life (something easily
forgotten in our preoccupation with family groups), offering experiential
exercises for each one. For all who teach and supervise in the training
context, this is an invaluable resource. However, I think some of her ideas
and examples can also be modified and used easily and appropriately in inhouse/agency training contexts, or simply to enrich and enhance your
own self-reflexivity as a clinician.
In chapters 8 and 9 she has included a small-scale research survey on
feedback from the participants in the module and offered her own reflections and critique. In addition, she has been looking ahead (p. 90) and
has asked some pertinent and important questions about the future
personal and professional development of family systemic psychotherapists, addressing, to some extent, the ethical and equal opportunities
issues as well. I would have liked to see more about race, culture (gender
and ethnicity are addressed more fully), language, religion and sexuality,
but those are the themes which we have just begun to look into, particularly within the teaching and training context.
I admire Judy Hildebrand in asking just how systemic we are in training.
While potential trainees have to jump, and overcome, many hurdles,
panels and questions (including some rather personal ones) during the
strict selection procedures, there is rarely a forum for trainees themselves
to ask questions of their trainers, teachers and supervisors about the
course and the privileged theoretical frameworks, let alone ones about
their personal and professional selves. In wondering why more is not done
to reduce the mystique and anxiety surrounding the training (which now
often expands over four to five years) Hildebrand writes: I have a suspicion that time limitations are not the only reason this does not take place;
it is as if trainers have found it more comfortable to be teaching about
family and wide systems than to be systemically interacting with them.
Read this book: it will invite you to think in a way that could improve
your practice, and reconsider the gap between us and them in clinical
practice, training and supervision. Hildebrand has offered a rich source of
experiential exercises, role-plays and ideas (her own as well as others, without forgetting to give credit). The illustrations by Jo Nesbitt are funny and
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very well drawn. All of this in just a hundred concise pages, like the best of
Anton Pavlovich Chekov! My only criticism is with Karnacs production of
the book. If you return to the text often, the pages are apt to come away
from the binding. But then it is only 13. Olivera Markovic (Chartered Clinical Psychologist and Systemic Psychotherapist, Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde NHS
Trust).
Martin Payne, Narrative Therapy: An Introduction for Counsellors. London,
Sage, 2000. 237 pp. Price 16.99 (paperback), 49.50 (hardback).
It took me just six days to read this book and I found it as relevant for me
as a family therapist as it must be for counsellors of psychotherapists of any
persuasion who seek a comprehensive description of these ideas.
Martin Payne accomplishes much more than an introduction to the
ideas and practices behind narrative therapy. He also relates how the ideas
continue to change and the ordinary struggles which he (and others of us)
go through to incorporate them into practice. He achieves a simple clarity
of expression without undermining the complexity of some of the ideas.
This simple language lends the book to be read before (not instead of) reading Michael White, whose language should prove more quickly accessible
once the ideas have some familiarity.
Martin writes with a clear grasp of the wide range of Michael Whites
thinking and practice. Michael White is quoted, on the cover, as saying
how, while reading this book, he instantly had a sense of being understood. Yes, this is a book largely about Michael Whites work, much less
about the work of David Epston or others.
Early chapters explain the thinking and mechanics of outsider witness
practices, re-membering, deconstruction, externalizing language, therapeutic documents, etc. Martin then turns his gaze on postmodernism,
local versus expert knowledge, post-structuralism, social constructionism,
thin and thick descriptions, power and knowledge, dominant narratives,
etc. These latter topics could be dry sections, but he has a knack for
metaphor and example that allows the ideas to slide easily into the understanding. Transcripted examples of conversational exchanges from his
own practice are used to analyse and clarify the detail and process of ideasinto-practice.
He asks Is externalising ethical? and voices his early concerns about
this. He also asks Is narrative telling stories? and distinguishes White and
Epston, etc. narrative from those therapies that claim the word narrative
but relate to more structuralist and modernist thinking.
I appreciated the authors modest tone and graciousness. The book
does not reveal him as a disciple, convert, devotee or other such
expressions that have more to do with denouncement than critique
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Book Reviews

(White, 2000). He criticizes some aspects of Michael Whites approach,

frankly confesses his own errors in therapy and suggests some other interpretations of the theories.
Of course, as a book for counsellors, it largely describes work with individuals and couples children are thin on the ground but there is little
that is not relevant to family therapists: you would have to access other writing on work with children. (Id recommend, for example, Once Upon a
Time (1999) edited by Alice Morgan.)
What didnt I like? Well, some of the end-of-chapter summaries
appeared repetitive and some examples from his own practice are less
clear than others. There was also little mention of Rogerian approaches to
counselling before the final chapter which may present difficulties for
counsellors looking for a bridge from their current practice to a narrative
style. I would have thought that more emphasis on the similarities between
these approaches might make any transition less de-skilling.
How does it compare with other publications? Unfortunately there are
few books of which I am aware that attempt a general introduction to
narrative ideas and applications. Michael Whites own books are unmissable in my opinion, but easier when one is used to his language style.
David Epstons writings have inspired me, but can be very practicebased and sometimes leave theory-lovers hungry. Freedman and Combs
Narrative Therapy: The Social Construction of Preferred Realities (1996) covers
similar ground but is more expensive, less clear and already suffers from
being four years older.
Given the rate of development in narrative thinking, books can quickly
seem dated for the moment though, this book is as up to date as you will
get. It is wide-ranging, accessible and current. I have my copy (courtesy of
AFT) youll have to buy yours! Mark Hayward (Principal Family Therapist,
Plymouth Hospitals Trust).
References
Freedman, J. and Combs, G. (1996) Narrative Therapy: The Social Construction of
Preferred Realities. New York: Norton.
Morgan, Alice (ed.) (1999) Once Upon A Time. Adelaide, Australia: Dulwich Centre
Publications.
White, Michael (2000) Exploring notions of spirituality and religion interviewed
by Dave Spellman. Context, 48: 58.

2000 The Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice