Working with Families: Guidelines and Techniques - Softcover

Edwards, John T.; Ballis, Tab; Budlong, Michael; McGuire, Michael E.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1394258127 ISBN 13: 9781394258123

Publisher: Wiley, 2026

Synopsis

The most up-to-date edition of the gold standard reference in family therapy

Clinician-focused and highly practical, this essential resource emphasizes hands on application over abstract theory. Building on the legacy of John T. Edwards, the newly revised Third Edition addresses contemporary challenges facing families―including addiction and the opioid crisis, trauma, social isolation, cultural complexity, and the impact of technology―by providing concrete tools clinicians can use immediately in practice.

Designed as a true “how to” resource manual, the book demystifies family systems theory and translates it into clear clinical models, interventions, and case examples. Its content is applicable across a wide range of settings, including mental health, substance use treatment, education, child welfare, and criminal justice. While preserving Edwards’ accessible and practical voice, this edition incorporates updated language, reorganized content for improved usability, and expanded attention to cultural humility, special populations, therapist use of self, and clinical supervision.

A hallmark of the Third Edition is its multimodal, practice ready design, featuring session-by-session templates to guide clinicians in conducting both couples and family therapy, along with updated case material, field tested techniques, editorial commentary, highlighted quotes from John T. Edwards, an extensive video catalog, interviews, and previously unpublished content.

Readers will find:

• An evidence‑informed, practice‑ready guide for expanding family therapy competence
• Flexible clinical frameworks that prioritize responsiveness over prescriptive models
• Refreshed strategies for working with substance use, trauma, and behavioral addictions in diverse families
• Over 150 integrated video resources to enhance learning and application

Ideal as a primary or supplementary text for graduate programs in social work, counseling, psychology, and marriage and family therapy, Working With Families also serves as an indispensable desk reference for practitioners seeking practical, authoritative, and hope‑centered clinical guidance.

About this title

About the Author

The late JOHN T. EDWARDS was a renowned psychologist specializing in family therapy and, more specifically, a powerful influencer for a generation of family therapists. TAB BALLIS, MICHAEL BUDLONG and MICHAEL MCGUIRE were longtime students of John and are founding board members of the John T. Edwards Foundation.

From the Back Cover

THE LEADING REFERENCE FOR PRACTITIONERS TO LEARN ABOUT OR ENHANCE THEIR FAMILY THERAPY SKILLS

The Third Edition of Working With Families continues to be the gold standard resource manual in family therapy, fusing the evidence-based approach of family systems theory with practical constructs and interventions that are both uncomplicated and fundamental to successful outcomes. Drawing on John T. Edwards’ wealth of practice, education, and supervision and contributions from seasoned clinicians who knew him personally, this text provides useful tools, theoretical insights, and case examples that highlight the transformative potential of family therapy.

This new edition offers a refreshed, contemporary update of John’s teachings, presented in a new multimodal format that accommodates a wide variety of learning styles, with session-by-session models for family therapy and couples counseling, as well as new content, including original videos and previously unpublished material, and expanded coverage of topics such as cultural perspective, special populations, use of self, the COVID pandemic, and the opioid crisis.

Working With Families is an essential reference for practitioners in the fields of mental health, addictions, education, child welfare, criminal justice, and the military.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wiley
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1394258127
• ISBN 13: 9781394258123
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 304