The fourth edition of this well-established textbook offers a thorough, readable, and up-to-date survey of the field of family therapy, providing coverage of all contemporary schools of thought. The book has been comprehensively revised to take account of recent advances in the field made since the last edition was published in 1992. The author presents a coherent model of therapy which students can apply as they start learning the skills they need in order to effectively work with families. Along with the review of all family therapies currently established in medical practice, Barker provides an extensive list of references for further reading. Basic Family Therapy is a clear, easily comprehensible introduction to the cross-disciplinary subject of family therapy. It is published at a time when such a comprehensive guide to the basics of the field is needed more than ever, and it will satisfy the varied information needs of trainee psychiatrists and pediatricians, psychologists, social workers and counselors, psychiatric nurses, medical students, and family practitioners.

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Philip Barker is at University of Calgary; Director, Dept. of Psychiatry and Head, Mental Health Program, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary.

"A comprehensive and stimulating text that presents a young field in its complexity, diversity, and unity."--Journal of Clinical Psychiatry

"Professor Barker has the ability of making complex ideas seem simple... I found the book a delight to read...containing not only an introduction to theory but also many practical tips to therapy."--Journal of Family Therapy

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