In the course of their daily practice, counsellors in a wide variety of caring agencies often need to assist families in dealing with the problems they face. Eddy Street defines successful family counselling as a combination of a number of elements. He argues that it should: be in keeping with a family′s strengths and style; offer empathic listening to each family member; maintain a perspective of the changing nature of family life; focus on clear and open communication; and deal in a problem-solving manner with the task in hand. He takes the reader step-by-step through these elements, outlining the necessary skills, and provides a clear understanding of the processes families have to go through in order to deal with the tasks that are set for them.
This text focuses on normative family problems, such as birth or leaving home; problems which distort normative expectations, such as divorce and step-parenting; and those that are produced by the unexpected, such as accidents or chronic illnesses.
