Power of Family: An Experiential Approach to Family Treatment

Power of Family: An Experiential Approach to Family Treatment

By Maurie Lung, Gary Stauffer, Tony Alvarez, and John Conway

Overview
Power of Family is a pioneering resource for therapists, counselors, and facilitators seeking to use experiential methods in family treatment. This book highlights the importance of engaging the feeling side of human nature—creativity, spontaneity, and play—while also addressing the structural and systemic dynamics that shape family life. Through intentional, interactive interventions, the authors provide a framework for families to explore, reveal, and transform their patterns in a safe, supportive environment.

Features

• Experiential Focus:
  Emphasizes creativity, play, and lived experience as central to the therapeutic process.

• Interactive Interventions:
  Introduces specifically designed activities that bring family systems and structures to light in real time.

• Comprehensive Approach:
  Balances attention to individual experiences with a focus on family systems, cognitive and emotional processes, and communication styles.

• Immediate Application:
  Activities are meant for direct use in the therapy office, providing therapists with practical tools to observe and address family dynamics as they unfold.

• Strength-Based Environment:
  Encourages family members to demonstrate both strengths and limitations, fostering genuine connection and growth.

Why We Love It
Power of Family stands out for its innovative blend of experiential and systemic approaches. The book empowers therapists to move beyond talk therapy by incorporating hands-on, interactive methods that engage every member of the family. This approach not only reveals underlying dynamics but also creates opportunities for healing, connection, and positive change. The practical, accessible activities make it a valuable addition to any family therapist’s toolkit.