ABSTRACT
Family therapy is a long-standing and well-established social work method. In this chapter Robert Taibbi spells out what is involved by explaining some of the core ideas that inform this approach. Given that so many of the problems social workers are called upon to deal with are located in family settings, this is a method that can offer important insights and practice guidance. Key to family therapy is the understanding that it is dangerous and potentially counterproductive to assume that the problems people are experiencing are within them. It makes more sense to understand problems (and therefore potential solutions) in terms of how families operate – the patterns and dynamics that become established as part of the basis of each family. Families can be the source of problems and/or can exacerbate other problems, and so there is much to be gained from learning how to influence families in a positive direction.
