In this ground-breaking book, Dorothy Becvar shows how a spiritual orientation can be used to facilitate healing at the deepest level. By incorporating a " soul healing " perspective into their practices, professionals may be able to help both themselves and their clients find meaning, wholeness, and a sense of the sacred in their lives, regardless of each person's beliefs about religion.According to postmodern theory, each of us creates his or her own reality. With a spiritual orientation, we may recognize that at some level we choose all of our life experiences,including our physical and emotional problems,that provide lessons essential to our personal growth and wholeness at a soul level. Although usually we are not conscious of these choices, our experiences may be part of the process called soul healing."In Becvar's framework, spirituality accommodates the full range of belief systems. Therapy with a spiritual orientation focuses on the whole of the client, and is aimed at the co-creaton of a new context within which healing at a soul level may be achieved. A pivotal part of this approach is the conscious awareness of both the relationship between client and therapist and the sacred trust bestowed on mental health professionals by their clients.In Part I, Becvar draws on her life experiences and shows how they influenced the development of her theoretical framework, which she then describes. Part II focuses on the five principles of soul healing: Acknowledging connectedness, suspending judgment, trusting the universe, creating realities, and walking the path with heart. Part III addresses the ramifications for both individuals and society to consciously undertake a journey toward wholeness.With compelling and sensitive case examples, Becvar illustrates ways in which clients and therapists may experience their connectedness and thereby co-create therapeutic relationship infused with a spiritual dimension.

One of the few books on this topic, The Family, Spirituality, and Social Work offers mental health professionals new information and research for creating more positive, effective, and satisfying sessions. You will learn how integrating spirituality and therapy can create open and trusting environments where clients feel accepted, respected, and spiritually affirmed.Studies show that religion is not only a way for people to be closer to their god but is also a part of their identity that dictates what they do, how they think, and who they are. The Family, Spirituality, and Social Work will help you understand what religion means to your clients and discusses different methods of answering the questions, "What is religion?" and "How does religion affect our lives?" In addition, you will gain insight into: how a social constructionist perspective can create the most successful sessions for your patients cases studies of how therapists'personal biases, lack of adequate education, personal discomfort, and self-serving needs may contribute to problems and complications in therapy the importance of including spirituality in the education of social workers and other therapists in order to avoid problems and complications with clients the nine major components of spirituality, defined in psychological terms the guidance women may need in therapy to find themselves spiritually given male-centered biases and patriarchal values in many spiritual traditions the seven steps used to help women find their spirituality, including awakening and discovering, as well as a practice model that will help practitioners address women's spirituality how and why the relational systems model (RSM) can promote wholeness and growth in family therapy groupsProviding you with information on how people perceive religion and spirituality, The Family, Spirituality, and Social Work also features studies of the therapeutic needs of those with different religious beliefs. With this solid knowledge and understanding of religion and spirituality and how it may affect clients, you will create a trusting environment that enhances your clients'experiences and makes you a more successful practitioner.

One of the few books on this topic, The Family, Spirituality, and Social Work offers mental health professionals new information and research for creating more positive, effective, and satisfying sessions. You will learn how integrating spirituality and therapy can create open and trusting environments where clients feel accepted, respected, and spiritually affirmed.Studies show that religion is not only a way for people to be closer to their god but is also a part of their identity that dictates what they do, how they think, and who they are. The Family, Spirituality, and Social Work will help you understand what religion means to your clients and discusses different methods of answering the questions, "What is religion?" and "How does religion affect our lives?" In addition, you will gain insight into: how a social constructionist perspective can create the most successful sessions for your patients cases studies of how therapists'personal biases, lack of adequate education, personal discomfort, and self-serving needs may contribute to problems and complications in therapy the importance of including spirituality in the education of social workers and other therapists in order to avoid problems and complications with clients the nine major components of spirituality, defined in psychological terms the guidance women may need in therapy to find themselves spiritually given male-centered biases and patriarchal values in many spiritual traditions the seven steps used to help women find their spirituality, including awakening and discovering, as well as a practice model that will help practitioners address women s spirituality how and why the relational systems model (RSM) can promote wholeness and growth in family therapy groupsProviding you with information on how people perceive religion and spirituality, The Family, Spirituality, and Social Work also features studies of the therapeutic needs of those with different religious beliefs. With this solid knowledge and understanding of religion and spirituality and how it may affect clients, you will create a trusting environment that enhances your clients'experiences and makes you a more successful practitioner.

A comprehensive, user-friendly guide to marriage and family therapy that takes a holistic view to look at people within the context of their environment. Family Therapy helps students understand the process of shifting from an individual psychology paradigm to a cybernetic or systems paradigm. The text is divided into three sections: "The Systemic Framework," "The Practice of Family Therapy," and "The Systemic Practitioner," and it includes historical information, current developments, and ongoing debates. Various family and developmental theories are examined. The family therapy models considered include psychodynamic, natural systems, experiential, structural, communications, strategic, behavioral/cognitive, and several post-modern approaches. Assessment, intervention, training and supervision, research, and epistemological challenges are discussed within the context of practice. Learning Goals Upon completing this book readers will be able to: Describe and compare various family therapy models Discuss practical applications for different family and developmental theories Review and assess unique family systems to determine the appropriate family therapy model Understand how concepts with the same name differ in meaning at different levels (i.e. 1 st order versus 2 nd order cybernetics)