Professional interest in the clinical applications of attachment theory continues to grow and evolve, and at the same time narrative approaches are also gaining ground. This book explores how attachment-based ideas can be used in clinical practice by offering a practical and sophisticated exposition of clinical approaches. Bringing together three main systems of thought and psychotherapeutic practice - systemic theory, attachment theory and narrative theory - practitioners are shown how to use these ideas in their work through the integrated approach of ‘attachment narrative therapy’. Using clinical examples, the authors provide guidance on how to use attachment narrative therapy in different clinical contexts and with various client groups, including working with: addictions: alcohol dependency and eating distress loss and grief trauma and dissociation love and sexuality: applications with couples. Systemic Therapy and Attachment Narratives provides practical guidance for a range of mental health professionals including family therapists, child, adolescent and adult psychotherapists, clinical psychologists and social workers, enabling them to apply this approach in a range of contexts.

This textbook provides an up-to-date guide to the application of Attachment Narrative Therapy (ANT), a model that combines concepts and techniques from systemic family therapy, narrative therapy and theory and attachment theory. Edited and with contributions from leading practitioners of ANT, this book brings together illustrations of its applications in a variety of clinical settings. It offers practical guidance and the latest research from clinicians who are now advancing its application. Another important feature is illustration of how practitioners have developed ANT to incorporate the latest ideas and methods from trauma theory and neuro-biology. It will provide a valuable new resource for practitioners, teachers and students of systemic practice, family therapy, clinical psychology, counselling and psychotherapy.

Systemic Therapy and Attachment Narratives explores how attachment-based ideas can be used in clinical practice by offering a practical and sophisticated exposition of clinical approaches. This new edition offers an updated overview of the integrations of attachment, systemic and narrative theory, and practice incorporating key developments in developmental trauma, intergenerational trauma and neuroscience of the emotional brain. It shows how early emotional experiences set the tone of the narratives we develop about our lives and how these in turn shape our emotional connections. This edition is more oriented towards activities and features more visual representations of problematic patterns of interaction, showing their significance for the family members. It also uses clinical examples to provide guidance on using attachment narrative therapy in different clinical contexts and with various client groups. The book provides practical guidance for a range of mental health professionals including family therapists, child, adolescent and adult psychotherapists, clinical psychologists and social workers, enabling them to apply this approach in a range of contexts.

“Systemic family therapy owes a debt of gratitude to Rudi Dallos and Ros Draper who have delivered a fifth edition of the book that has provided essential scaffolding for systemic family therapists for over two decades. This latest edition holds onto its original, clear, and coherent telling of the development of systemic family therapy.” Rachel Watson, Institute of Family Therapy, London, UK “Like a well-constructed remix Rudi Dallos and Ros Draper have provided a tour through the landscape of family therapy and systemic practice, from its historical beginnings through to the here-and-now…I recommend this book without hesitation and reservation. This remix should be “listened to” and returned to many times, as it keeps on giving.” Dr Ramón Karamat Ali, MSc Research Lead, Manchester, UK; Director of Training and Development at KA Conversations Ltd. “With genuine enthusiasm, I wholeheartedly recommend An Introduction to Family Therapy, 5th edition by Dallos & Draper.” Dr Sonam Pelden, Academic Lead for Counselling, School of Arts and Humanities, Edith Cowan University, Australia The fifth edition of the bestselling An Introduction to Family Therapy provides a comprehensive overview of the core concepts informing family therapy and systemic practice, covering the development of this innovative field from the 1950s to the present day. The book considers both British and International perspectives and includes the latest developments in current practice, regulation and innovation, examining these developments within a wider political, cultural and geographical context. The fully revised fifth edition also contains new material on: Developments in Neuropsychology and Trauma Theory and its relevance for family therapy practice Illustrations of the techniques of the core schools of Family Therapy Updates on the research basis of Family Therapy This book is key reading for students and practitioners of family therapy and systemic practice as well as those from the fields of counselling, psychology, social work and the helping professions who deal with family issues. Rudi Dallos is Emeritus professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Plymouth, External examiner D. Clin. Psychology University Canterbury, Christ Church, External examiner, University of Roehampton. He presents training courses for the Institute of Family Therapy and Bowlby Centre London on a yearly basis. He also leads on a variety of training events – Relate UK, Australian FT association, Holland family therapy association, Associations for Family Therapy Ireland, Jersey and Plymouth. He offers clinical supervision in a variety of contexts including Gloucester Eating Disorder Services, Formulation Psychotherapy centre Dublin and Art therapies Ireland. Rudi is working independently as a family therapist and offer an early intervention service in Devon. Ros Draper is an independent family therapist with decades of experience in practice including working as an organisational consultant, working therapeutically with individuals, couples, families and groups as well as working as a supervisor for therapists and coaches.

What are some of the central connections between narrative, systemic and attachment therapies? How do early emotional experiences in families shape our narratives about ourselves and our families? In what ways do family attachments shape our narrative abilities, such as being able to reflect on and integrate our experiences? This book sets out a framework for practice – Attachment Narrative Therapy – that provides a new approach to working with families, couples and individuals. This is not offered as a prescriptive model but as an aid and guide to practice that draws aspects of narrative and attachment therapy into systemic work. The synthesis of these ideas offers clinicians a new integrative way to approach their practice – one in which the three approaches are used to create a greater whole than their constituent parts. The book includes: Clinical examples Personal reflections Frameworks for clinical practice Therapeutic guides that include details of the application of core techniques Extensive reading guides that offer connections to related theory and practice Attachment Narrative Therapy is essential reading for a wide variety of therapists and counsellors along with researchers and trainers in those fields. It also provides insight into good practice for health and social welfare professionals in the area of family and child welfare.

Therapy with traumatised clients can be fraught with problems and therapists working with these clients seek greater understanding of the specific problems they encounter. Trauma Therapy and Clinical Practice weaves together neuroscience research and the experience of trauma, taking a fresh look at how original Gestalt theory informs our current understanding of trauma therapy. The book: Places trauma and trauma therapy in a relational field model Includes material on change processes, triggers, dissociation, shame, enactment and resources Describes clearly the neurobiology of trauma and the role of the body in maintaining trauma reactions and in the recovery process Offers experiments for deepening the therapist's embodied presence Provides numerous clinical examples and an extended case study Miriam Taylor offers readers a theoretical basis for interventions and shows how simple Gestalt concepts can be applied in trauma therapy. By creating the conditions in which awareness, choice and vitality can grow, contemporary relational Gestalt is shown to be exceptionally well suited for trauma clients. The book is presented in three parts covering theory, the phenomenology of trauma and the therapeutic relationship. Including a glossary for readers unfamiliar with Gestalt therapy, case studies and reflection points, this book is a thoughtful and coherent guide for trainees and practitioners in counselling and therapy. "Miriam Taylor has done a simply tremendous job in articulating an expanded Gestalt approach to trauma treatment that is informed by, and integrated with, modern neurobiological approaches to trauma ... This book should be read by everyone treating trauma and I expect it to become a foundational text in our field." James Kepner, Gestalt therapist and international trainer in Gestalt Body Process Psychotherapy "Taylor's book is a theoretically and clinically sophisticated approach to working with trauma from a phenomenological vantage point. Her book hadan immediate effect on my work." Lynne Jacobs, co-founder, Pacific Gestalt Institute, USA "Destined to become a classic in Gestalt therapy literature. Well-written, insightful, compassionate, and practical, it will assist many a therapist." Malcolm Parlett, Visiting Professor of Gestalt Psychotherapy, University of Derby, UK (now retired) "I am profoundly grateful to Miriam Taylor for writing this book. I just wish that she could have written it before 2002 when I began my own training in Gestalt psychotherapy. There is a section at the beginning called ‘Praise for this book’ which includes very positive prepublication comments from Malcolm Parlett, James Kepner, and Lynne Jacobs. Now that I have read the book for myself, I find myself in agreement with their comments and want to add my own round of applause ... I consider that Taylor has made a major contribution to our field in taking this enterprise forward." British Gestalt Journal2014, Vol. 23, No. 2, 47–58 "Taylor’s remarkable contribution is a reminder that Gestalt Therapy Theory is alive and kicking and demonstrating how Gestalt can and should become the therapy of choice for trauma workers." Review published in Self and Society

Professional interest in the clinical applications of attachment theory continues to grow and evolve, and at the same time narrative approaches are also gaining ground. This book explores how attachment-based ideas can be used in clinical practice by offering a practical and sophisticated exposition of clinical approaches. Bringing together three main systems of thought and psychotherapeutic practice - systemic theory, attachment theory and narrative theory - practitioners are shown how to use these ideas in their work through the integrated approach of ‘attachment narrative therapy’. Using clinical examples, the authors provide guidance on how to use attachment narrative therapy in different clinical contexts and with various client groups, including working with: addictions: alcohol dependency and eating distress loss and grief trauma and dissociation love and sexuality: applications with couples. Systemic Therapy and Attachment Narratives provides practical guidance for a range of mental health professionals including family therapists, child, adolescent and adult psychotherapists, clinical psychologists and social workers, enabling them to apply this approach in a range of contexts.