In-Laws: A Guide to Extended-Family Therapy

In-law problems are among the leading causes of marital discord and divorce. And since nearly everyone has in-laws (whether or not they themselves are married), in-law problems are a matter of serious concern to virtually every extended family member. As resources become scarcer, people are again turning to the family as a source of material and emotional support and fulfillment. This, in turn, has opened up many exciting new opportunities for therapists to make a difference in the lives of their clients by helping them to heal unhealthy in-law relationships and keep them strong. Now In-Laws: A Guide to Extended-Family Therapy shows you how. The first professional book devoted exclusively to the causes and cures of unhealthy in-law relationships, In-Laws is not another abstruse discourse or scholarly monograph. Instead, it is a highly accessible reference/field manual that arms you and your clients with a retinue of "battle-tested" tools and techniques for quickly identifying and resolving most of the problems that arise in in-law relationships. Writing in a lucid, jargon-free style, Gloria Call Horsley, a therapist who has been treating extended families for more than a decade, traces the development of healthy and unhealthy in-law relationships. She examines common sources of in-law problems, including overinvolvement, conflicting family loyalties, sociocultural differences, illness, and financial and legal issues. And, with the help of dozens of clinical vignettes and several full-length case studies, she clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the techniques she describes and provides clear, step-by-step guidance on when and how to use them to optimal effect. The first and onlybook devoted exclusively to the diagnosis and treatment of unhealthy in-law relationships, In-Laws is an indispensable resource for couples and family therapists, marriage counselors, and all mental health professionals who recognize the crucial importance of this complex, yet oft-neglected facet of the family system.