Families and Mental Illness: New Directions in Professional Practice

(Hardback)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Focusing on new directions in professional practice with families of people with mental illness, this book offers a multidisciplinary systems-orientated examination of the theory, research, and practice in this area. Features of this text include a consideration of lifespan and family system and subsystem perspectives, as well as the inclusion of powerful personal accounts of family members. It is written from the perspective of a competence paradigm for clinical practice, which offers a constructive alternative to the more prevalent pathology models of the past. In the era following deinstitutionalization, families often have served as an extension of the mental health system. There is, however, evidence that the needs of families are often poorly met. In response to the shortcomings of the system and to their own anguish, families have become increasingly assertive in articulating their needs for respect, support, information, skills, resources and services. This volume is designed to provide professionals with increased understanding of the experiences and needs of families, as well as with concrete suggestions for enhancing effectiveness in meeting these needs.

Reviews

Families and Mental Illness is highly recommended as a text-book for future psychologists, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, and psychiatrists. It is also recommended as a handbook for all providers, including case managers, who work with persons with serious mental illness. Families and Mental Illness is a gold mine of information that can be used to supplement and validate one's personal scenario.-Innovations And Research
"Families and Mental Illness is highly recommended as a text-book for future psychologists, nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, and psychiatrists. It is also recommended as a handbook for all providers, including case managers, who work with persons with serious mental illness. Families and Mental Illness is a gold mine of information that can be used to supplement and validate one's personal scenario."-Innovations And Research

Author Bio

DIANE T. MARSH is Professor of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. She is also a Licensed Psychologist with many years of experience as a psychotherapist and clinical consultant, and currently specializes in professional practice with families who have a member with a disability. She is the author of the forthcoming book Families and Mental Retardation: New Directions in Professional Practice (Praeger, 1992).