Family Therapy Homework Planner, Second Edition

By Louis J. Bevlilacqua and Frank M. Dattilio

Features new and updated assignments and exercises to meet thechanging needs of mental health professionals

The Family Therapy Homework Planner, Second Editionprovides you with an array of ready-to-use, between-sessionassignments designed to fit virtually every therapeutic mode. Thiseasy-to-use sourcebook features:

• New and updated homework assignments consistent withevidence-based therapies and grouped by presenting problemsincluding adoption, communication issues, interracial familyproblems, sexual abuse, and school concerns

• 78 ready-to-copy exercises covering the most common issuesencountered by families in therapy, such as family-of-origininterference, depression in family members, divorce, financialconflict, adolescent and parent conflicts, traumatic life events,and dependency issues

• Expert guidance on how and when to make the most efficient useof the exercises

• Assignments that are cross-referenced to The Family TherapyTreatment Planner, Second Edition—so you can quicklyidentify the right exercise for a given situation or problem

• A CD-ROM that contains all the exercises in a word-processingformat—allowing you to customize them to suit you and yourclients’ unique styles and needs

Additional resources in thePracticePlanners® series:

Treatment Planners cover all the necessary elements fordeveloping formal treatment plans, including detailed problemdefinitions, long-term goals, short-term objectives, therapeuticinterventions, and DSMTM diagnoses.

For more information on ourPracticePlanners® products,including our full line of Treatment Planners, visit us onthe Web at: www.wiley.com/practiceplanners

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wiley
• Release date: Aug 3, 2010
• ISBN: 9780470638361

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

Family therapists are assigning homework to their clients on a more regular basis due to the evidence-based movement that has now become a gold standard in the field. Not only have short-term psychotherapy models endorsed the use of homework, but the benefits are continuing to be recognized by many of the more traditional family therapists as well.

A RATIONALE FOR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS

Since the first edition of the Family Therapy Homework Planner, additional research studies have been published on the efficacy of homework assignments in treatment.

Homework assignments are an efficacious clinical tool with strong theoretical and practical support. Between-session tasks have been well documented in the professional literature and assist with the reinforcement, maintenance, and generalization of skills learned during the course and content of therapy (Kellogg & Young, 2008; Zinbarg & Griffith, 2008). More recently, homework assignments have particularly begun to show strong evidence of effectiveness in work with couples and families (Dattilio & Dickson, 2007; Epstein & Baucom, 2007; L’Abate & Cusinato, 2007; Lindille & Hertlein, 2007). Empirical research has demonstrated that many couples and family therapists of various modalities do indeed use a variety of homework assignments with both couples and families and view the utility of such to be significant (Dattilio, Kazantzis, Shinkfield, & Carr, 2010; Dattilio, Carr, & Kazantzis, in press).

Assigning homework to couples and families is beneficial for a number of reasons. For one, research documents that it aids in maximizing the effectiveness of briefer treatments employed and allows therapists to assign homework as an extension of the treatment process, as well as providing continuity. It also allows families to work on issues that are the focus of therapy in between sessions, which serves to galvanize the treatment process (Dattilio, 2010). This is particularly important in managed-care situations, which often require shorter and fewer treatment sessions. Homework can also be utilized as a tool to more fully engage family members during the course of treatment. This allows the family to assume more responsibility and move away from the notion that the therapist is the healer. Homework assignments nicely underscore collaboration between therapists and clients.

Homework is also essential in that assignments can be crafted in a manner that provides an opportunity for families to implement and evaluate insights or coping behaviors that have been processed during the course of therapy. Homework assignments also increase the expectation for family members to follow through with making change rather than simply discussing it as a goal. Homework assignments often create a sense of having family members take active steps towards the facilitation of change. This further facilitates the stage for trial experiences, which can be discussed in the subsequent sessions, allowing for modifications to be made.

It is not unusual for treatment processes to become vague and somewhat abstract, which dilutes the overall impact of treatment. By fortifying therapy sessions with focus and structure, homework assignments allow for the re-energizing of the treatment process. At times, when the therapist may encounter barriers or resistance, homework may also serve to increase a family member’s motivation to change or work through obstacles and narrow down the focus on the impediments in growth.

Two other additional benefits include the increased involvement of family members and significant others in the client’s treatment by way of assignments that call for the participation of others and the promotion of more efficient treatment by encouraging the family members to actively develop insights, positive self-talk, and coping behaviors between therapy sessions. Families are often thrilled to be given something active to do, which facilitates the change process and reinforces their sense of control and mastery over a particular problem. As a result of these advantages, the assignment of therapeutic homework has become increasingly utilized and has also been found to be effective in outcome studies.

HOW TO USE THIS HOMEWORK PLANNER

Creating homework assignments and developing the printed forms for recording responses can be a time-consuming process. The Family Therapy Homework Planner, which follows the lead of psychotherapeutic interventions suggested in the Family Therapy Treatment Planner (Dattilio & Jongsma, 2010), was written to provide a menu of homework assignments that can easily be photocopied. In addition to the printed format, the assignments in this Planner are provided on a disk to allow the therapist to open them in a word processor and subsequently print them out or quickly custom-tailor them to suit each client’s individual needs and the therapist’s unique style.

The assignments are grouped under presenting problems that are typical of those found in familial situations. These presenting problems are cross-referenced to most of the presenting problems found in the Family Therapy Treatment Planner. Although these assignments were originally created with a specific presenting problem in mind, don’t feel locked in by specific behavioral problems. Included with each exercise is a cross-referenced list of suggested presenting problems for which the assignment may be appropriate and useful. This cross-referenced list can assist you in applying the assignments to other situations that may be relevant to your client’s particular presenting