Examines the special bonds and stresses, common to lesbian families and provides a five-stage working model for the development of lesbian couple relationships. It provides guidance for friends as well as members of lesbian families and is useful for therapists who wish to design more effective and informed therapies.
Now featured in a Classics Edition with a new Foreword by Donald Boch, The Expanded Family Life Cycle integrates theory and current research with clinical guidelines and cases by two of the most-respected authors, teachers, and clinicians in the field of family therapyaCarter and Monica McGoldrick. This classic Family Therapy text provides "and more comprehensive way to think about human development and the life cycle," reflecting changes in society away from orientation toward the nuclear family, toward a more diverse and inclusive definition of "family." This expanded view of the family includes the impact of issues at multiple levels of the human system: the individual, family households, the extended family, the community, the cultural group, and the larger society. The text features a ground-breaking integration of individual male and female development in systemic context; our increasing racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity; the emergence of men's movements and issues; the growing visibility of lesbian and gay families; and the neglected area of social class.
This new book illustrates how Taiwanese lesbians negotiate their lives outside patriarchal families, while seeking varying ways to maintain working relationships with their families of origin, as their notion of family distinguishes them from same sex couples in other countries. This ambivalence has a strong influence on their relational decisions as they deal with contradictions between family ties, filial piety and lesbianism. Based on individual and couple interviews with self-identified lesbian couples in stable relationships, the book offers vivid narratives of different ways in which Taiwanese lesbians have been able to make sense of their families without recognition by legislation or their families of origin. Specific issues in Taiwan raised in the book challenge the taken-for-granted understandings of same-sex relationships and review the dramatic transformations that have profoundly changed womens' position. It also offers a sensitive analysis of GLBT issues and heteronormativity, arguing that Chinese familialism can cohabite with lesbianism in the context of contemporary Taiwan.
Family Theories: Foundations and Applications presents a comprehensive and accessible approach to the most current perspectives in the field of family theory. Integrates classic and contemporary writings on family theories Features compelling case studies drawn from the authors’ experiences working with thousands of students Represents an integrative use of theory, research, and practice Utilizes the metaphor of “developing your theory app” to translate complex academic ideas into accessible, student-friendly language
Gain a better understanding of the special therapeutic issues and needs of GLBT families In terms of research, GLBT families constitute a neglected segment of society. Gender and sexual orientation can make the issues in family studies even more difficult to work through. An Introduction to GLBT Family Studies tackles a challenging research topic by presenting noted experts examining the latest information on the newest type of family studies—GLBT families. This groundbreaking text explores a wide range of unique problems faced by nontraditional families, as well as issues common to traditional families that need to be approached with a GLBT perspective. Though homophobia and heterosexism constantly influence GLBT families, these factors do not necessarily overwhelm the dynamic of their basic family unit. Issues present in many traditional families are found when researching GLBT families. An Introduction to GLBT Family Studies spotlights the issues, research, and future trends that provide a foundation for the study of GLBT families. This breakthrough volume focuses not only on the obvious unique factors within GLBT families, but also on the elements encountered within families that are present regardless of sexual orientation and gender, such as physical and emotional abuse. Expert contributors present research findings on family pattern issues relating to parent-child relationships, child development, sibling relationships, family structure, intimate relationships, stepfamilies, alternative family structures, and extended family relationships. Each chapter is extensively referenced and offers possibilities for further research. An Introduction to GLBT Family Studies discusses family studies topics such as: the impact of the family of origin life course perspective transgender identity issues and the family when a spouse comes out as gay, lesbian, or bisexual a study of lesbian couples adapting genogram techniques in therapy research comparing siblings of different sexual orientations studies of patterns of responses to parental reactions to learning their offspring are gay, lesbian, or bisexual the polyamory structure to some gay men’s familial relationships same-sex marriages and legalized relationships gay male couples’ roles in today’s society the impact of heterosexism on working with same-sex relationships research on long-term lesbian couples An Introduction to GLBT Family Studies is a valuable reference for academic researchers in family studies, marriage and family therapy, social work, and counseling; educators, upper division undergraduate and graduate students; and anyone interested in better understanding GLBT family studies.
Receiving special attention are the structure, dynamics, and unique problems of families that do not fit the traditional mold. Experts in these areas share their findings and provide clinical guidelines for treating bi-nuclear, single-parent, gay and lesbian, and other nontraditional families.
An inside look at the unique challenges of the lesbian experience Lesbian Families’ Challenges and Means of Resiliency: Implications for Feminist Family Therapy is a unique collection of interdisciplinary feminist examinations of the resiliency of lesbian couples and families. Leading feminist researchers and clinicians discuss parenting within lesbian families, with a focus on personal resiliency. These thought-provoking and insightful articles address the challenges of having and raising children in a society that struggles to accept alternative family structures. Lesbian Families’ Challenges and Means of Resiliency examines a wide range of issues facing lesbian couples, with a special focus on parenting and couple violence. The book’s contributors examine the unique challenges of lesbian and gay parenting; adversities facing lesbian parents and the coping methods they employ; violence among lesbian couples and the lesbian community’s response to domestic violence; and the application of feminist theory to validate, strengthen, and promote resiliency in lesbian couples. The book also includes interviews with single or partnered lesbians who had children through adoption, artificial insemination, or a previous relationship. Topics examined in Lesbian Families’ Challenges and Means of Resiliency include: parenting artificial insemination lesbian family therapy family law couple violence lesbian community feminist research feminist couple therapy and much more Lesbian Families’ Challenges and Means of Resiliency is a vital professional aid for psychotherapists, family therapists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors. It’s an equally valuable resource for academics working in family studies, women’s studies, queer studies, gender studies, and sociology.
The SAGE Encyclopedia of Marriage, Family and Couples Counseling is a new, all-encompassing, landmark work for researchers seeking to broaden their knowledge of this vast and diffuse field. Marriage and family counseling programs are established at institutions worldwide, yet there is no current work focused specifically on family therapy. While other works have discussed various methodologies, cases, niche aspects of the field and some broader views of counseling in general, this authoritative Encyclopedia provides readers with a fully comprehensive and accessible reference to aid in understanding the full scope and diversity of theories, approaches and techniques and how they address various life events within the unique dynamics of families, couples and related interpersonal relationships. Key topics include: Adolescence Adoption Assessment Communication Coping Diversity Divorce and Separation Interventions and Techniques Life Events/Transitions Parenting Styles Sexuality Work/Life Issues, and more Key features include: More than 500 signed articles written by key figures in the field span four comprehensive volumes Front matter includes a Reader’s Guide that groups related entries thematically Back matter includes a history of the development of the field, a Resource Guide to key associations, websites, journals, a selected Bibliography of classic publications, and a detailed Index All entries conclude with References/Further Readings and Cross References to related entries to aid the reader in their research journey
Edited by a renowned family therapist, this book brings together prominent marital and family therapists to explore the new challenges and opportunities facing couples and the clinicians who work with them. The volume presents a range of approaches to helping couples reconsider and reorder their life priorities around parenting, marriage, and other stages of life.