Paul, a divorced father, wants to back out of his child care arrangement and spend less time with his children. Nathan has been lying to his wife about a serious medical condition. Marsha, recently separated from her husband, cannot resist telling her children negative things about their father. What is the role of therapy in these situations? Trained to strive for neutrality and to focus strictly on the clients' needs, most therapists generally consider moral issues such as fairness, truthfulness, and obligation beyond their domain. Now, an award-winning psychologist and family therapist criticizes psychotherapy's overemphasis on individual self-interest and calls for a sense of moral responsibility in therapy. --- from the publisher Reviews: "Anybody who has been in pyschotherapy, knows someone who has, or cares about what this profession does, simply must read this book." - Amitai Etzioni, author of The Spirit of Community "A courageous and important book that provides a crucial corrective to the moral blindfolds worn by many therapists." - Michael Lerner, Tikkun "I am very impressed.… An outstanding contribution." -Rachel T. Hare-Mustin, co-author of Making a Difference: Psychology and the Construction of Gender "Doherty has done a great service for therapists and their patients by bringing to light long-neglected issues like courage, commitment, and truthfulness." - Susan H. McDaniel, author of Medical Family Therapy About the Author: William J. Doherty is a practicing therapist, professor of Family Social Science, and director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program at the University of Minnesota. |