Family Psychology: Science-Based Interventions

A presentation of perspectives on the science of family intervention in psychology. The editors provide a concise historical overview of this emerging field, which is considered the applied branch of family psychology. Experts in the field present therapy techniques, procedures and research strategies that are empirically-based. The contributors stress the need to link research and practice so that the questions targeted by researchers are those confronted by clinicians and the results can directly influence the practice of family therapy. Also emphasized is the need to identify specific patient characteristics that set these patients apart from the rest of the population and, if addressed in a more focused manner, would enhance the effectiveness of the intervention. Chapters offer strong empirical evidence and developments for the treatment of a wide variety of marriage and family problems. Advances in couples and marital research include conceptual frameworks and treatments aimed at preventing marital distress and divorce and promoting marital adjustment. Chapters on family research discuss promising areas and challenges in moving prevention science into broader community settings, the specific value of prevention efforts, and the role of the family in these efforts. There are chapters focusing on contextual considerations, which highlight the many ways in which gender and cultural factors can influence core constructs and processes.