"The Process of Change"

Book Review # 111086

Literature
Psychology > Therapies

A review of Peggy Papp's book "The Process of Change".

2,775 words () | 5 sources | MLA | 2006 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how "The Process of Change" is an informative and fascinating look at the actual process of family therapy. It looks at how, in her book, Peggy Papp guides the reader through the complex process of forming a hypothesis, setting terms for therapy, negotiating change, and a host of other techniques using theoretical background and case presentations. It examines how the Papp defines the family system and explains the process that a family goes through in order to bring about change as well as the process for information collections and setting the terms for therapy.

From the Paper:

"Papp wonderfully described the imperative of the therapist setting the terms for therapy. This is similar to the concept that was seen in other cases where there was an initial struggle over membership at the meetings (Napier & Whitaker, 1978), or in Papp's example, a trainee who allows the patients to dictate the terms of the therapy. If the family is allowed to set the terms through their definition of the problem, then the therapist looses control because the family's definition is maintaining the problem (Papp, 1983). Interestingly enough, Papp did not go as far as Whitaker and Napier in demanding that the entire family be present for counseling sessions. She believed that therapy could still be constructive, and change could still occur in a family member who was not present, as a result of change in the more amicable family members."

Sample of Sources Used:

Benner, D. G. (2002). Nurturing spiritual growth. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 30, 355-361.
Cade, B. (1998, May). Honesty is still the best policy. Journal of Family Therapy, 20(2).
Minuchin, S. (1974). Families and family therapy. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Nichols, M. P., & Schwartz, R. C. (2001). Family therapy: Concepts and methods (5th ed.). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Papp, P. (1983). The process of change. New York: The Guilford Press.