The Family Crucible: The Intense Experience of Family Therapy

“If you have a troubled marriage, a troubled child, a troubled self, if you’re in therapy or think that there’s no help for your predicament, The Family Crucible will give you insights . . . that are remarkably fresh and helpful.”—New York Times Book Review

The classic groundbreaking book on family therapy by acclaimed experts Augustus Y. Napier, Ph.D., and Carl Whitaker, M.D.

This extraordinary book presents scenarios of one family’s therapy experience and explains what underlies each encounter. You will discover the general patterns that are common to all families—stress, polarization and escalation, scapegoating, triangulation, blaming, and the diffusion of identity—and you will gain a vivid understanding of the intriguing field of family therapy.

This extraordinary book presents scenarios of one family’s therapy experience and explains what underlies each encounter. You will discover the general patterns that are common to all families—stress, polarization and escalation, scapegoating, triangulation, blaming, and the diffusion of identity—and you will gain a vivid understanding of the intriguing field of family therapy.

“Brings fresh insight to our understanding of family interactions, the forces that contribute to marital failure, and how family therapy can aid in revitalizing interpersonal relationships.” - Psychology Today

“This is a book that shows how psychological growth occurs and opens new avenues of thought about changing daily life patterns.” - Los Angeles Times

“Highly absorbing and readable.” - American Journal of Psychiatry

“A thoughtful, well-written book.” - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel