Family Assessment: Contemporary and Cutting-Edge Strategies

359 Pages·2011·3.985 MB·English

by  Len Sperry

“Len Sperry’s second edition of Family Assessment: Contemporary and
Cutting-Edge Strategies is the only student-, counselor-, and therapist-friendly
book on the market today. In addition to being the most comprehensive text on
systemic approaches, the organization of the later chapters will perfectly facili-
tate the development of a large repertoire of assessment options. There is simply
no other book better suited to the teaching and learning of family assessment.”
—James Robert Bitter, EdD, professor of counseling at East Tennessee State
University and author of Theory and Practice of Family Therapy and Counseling
“Assessment is no longer a choice, nor is it a component separate from diagnos-
tic and treatment procedures. In this valuable book, Dr. Sperry and his excellent
selection of contributors provide a comprehensive focus on what clinicians need
to conduct an evaluation and develop on-going treatment plans for couples and
families. The evidence-based approaches to measurement—quantitative, quali-
tative, observational and/or self- report, among others—offer the necessary
challenge to the standard protocols and help clinicians be effective throughout
the treatment process.”
—S. Richard Sauber, PhD, editor of The American Journal of Family Therapy
and former professor of psychology at Brown University, Columbia University,
and the University of Pennsylvania
“In this comprehensive volume, Sperry brings together many of the leaders in
the realm of family assessment. Family Assessment is an important book for all
who believe effective treatment is based on sound assessment and diagnosis.”
—Florence Kaslow, PhD, editor of the Handbook of Relational Diagnosis and
Dysfunctional Family Patterns
“Sperry’s work is a lucid gateway to a myriad of assessment strategies and inven-
tories. It is a work that is exceptional in depth, breadth, and practical utility. A
unique and important contribution to the field! I recommend it highly.”
—Craig S. Cashwell, PhD, professor in the department of counseling and edu-
cational development at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro and
coeditor of Integrating Spirituality and Religion into Counseling: A Guide to
Competent Practice
“In this thorough and accessible text, Sperry and his associates provide compre-
hensive coverage and explanation of family-assessment methods. Although the
book as a whole is well done, the case examples that accompany discussion of
the various assessment tools are particularly valuable. Both clinicians-in-train-
ing and seasoned practitioners will experience this book as a useful resource
for understanding and applying assessment strategies in clinical practice with
families, couples, and children.”
—Richard E. Watts, PhD, LPC-S, University Distinguished Professor and direc-
tor of the Center for Research and Doctoral Studies in Counselor Education at
Sam Houston State University
“Clear, purposeful, and targeted assessment when working with families is
what makes or breaks successful treatment. Len Sperry’s most recent gem,
Family Assessment: Contemporary and Cutting-Edge Strategies, is both the
foundation and details of this critical element of family work. This volume is a
must for practitioners, researchers, and students alike.”
—Bret A. Moore, PsyD, editor of Handbook of Counseling Military Couples
and author of Wheels Down: Adjusting to Life After Deployment
“Family Assessment: Contemporary and Cutting-Edge strategies is an ideal
desk reference for family clinicians and clinical researchers, as this compendium
offers a wealth of information about state-of-the-art quantitative and qualita-
tive approaches to assessing families across the family-life cycle with myriad
presenting problems. It also will appeal to teachers and students of interven-
tions with both couples and families, as the distinguished authors detail over
130 assessment tools, documenting their psychometric properties and clinical
and research utility. The richness and diversity of the clinical material provided
makes family-assessment processes come alive.”
— Nadine J. Kaslow, PhD, professor and vice chair in the department of psy-
chiatry and behavioral sciences at Emory University School of Medicine
“Assessment is one of the most crucial aspects of conducting effective family
therapy. This book is an outstanding resource that provides both a general and
specific array of empirically grounded techniques for clinicians and researchers.
It is written in clear and concise language and provides excellent examples that
serve as a guideline for readers. This text should be a part of every family thera-
pist’s library. I also highly recommend its use for classroom adoption.”
—Frank M. Dattilio, PhD, clinical instructor in psychiatry at the Harvard
Medical School and author of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy with Couples and
Families: A Comprehensive Guide for Clinicians
Family
Assessment
The Family Therapy and Counseling series
series editor
Jon Carlson, psy.d., ed.d.
Kit s. ng
Global Perspectives in Family Therapy: Development, Practice, Trends
phyllis erdman and Tom Caffery
Attachment and Family Systems: Conceptual, Empirical, and Therapeutic
Relatedness
Wes Crenshaw
Treating Families and Children in the Child Protective System
len sperry
Assessment of Couples and Families: Contemporary and Cutting-Edge Strategies
robert l. smith and r. esteban montilla
Counseling and Family Therapy with Latino Populations: Strategies that Work
Catherine Ford sori
Engaging Children in Family Therapy: Creative Approaches to Integrating Theory
and Research in Clinical Practice
paul r. peluso
Infidelity: A Practitioner’s Guide to Working with Couples in Crisis
Jill d. onedera
The Role of Religion in Marriage and Family Counseling
Christine Kerr, Janice hoshino, Judith sutherland, sharyl parashak,
and linda mcCarley
Family Art Therapy
debra d. Castaldo
Divorced Without Children: Solution Focused Therapy with Women at Midlife
phyllis erdman and Kok-mun ng
Attachment: Expanding the Cultural Connections
Jon Carlson and len sperry
Recovering Intimacy in Love Relationships: A Clinician’s Guide
adam Zagelbaum and Jon Carlson
Working with Immigrant Families: A Practical Guide for Counselors
david K. Carson and montserrat Casado-Kehoe
Case Studies in Couples Therapy: Theory-Based Approaches
shea m. dunham, shannon B. dermer, and Jon Carlson
Poisonous Parenting: Toxic Relationships Between Parents and
Their Adult Children
Bret a. moore
Handbook of Counseling Military Couples
len sperry
Family Assessment: Contemporary and Cutting-Edge Strategies, 2nd ed.
Family
Assessment
Contemporary and Cutting-Edge Strategies
SECOND EDITION
Edited by Len Sperry
New York London
This book is part of the Family Therapy and Counseling Series, edited by Jon Carlson.
Routledge Routledge
Taylor & Francis Group Taylor & Francis Group
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New York, NY 10017 Hove, East Sussex BN3 2FA
© 2012 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business
Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper
Version Date: 20110831
International Standard Book Number: 978-0-415-89406-7 (Hardback) 978-0-415-89407-4 (Paperback)
For permission to photocopy or use material electronically from this work, please access www.copyright.
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Library of Congress Cataloging‑in‑Publication Data
Family assessment : contemporary and cutting-edge strategies / [edited by] Len
Sperry. -- 2nd ed.
p. cm. -- (Family therapy and counseling)
Rev. ed of: Assessment of couples and families. 2004.
Summary: “In an era that demands ever-increasing levels of accountability and
documentation, Family Assessment is a vital tool for clinicians. It covers more than
one hundred assessment methods--both the most widely used strategies as well
as those that are more specialized and issue specific. Techniques and instruments
for assessments are summarized concisely in tables and discussed in depth in the
chapters, often by the experts who developed the approaches they describe. Each
chapter is also supplemented by recommended strategies for utilizing the assessment
tools, as well as by case studies and observational method matrices. Readers will
find the second edition of Family Assessment to provide the same comprehensive
evaluation and thorough analysis as the first edition but with a fully updated focus
that will invigorate the work of researchers, educators, and clinicians”-- Provided by
publisher.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-415-89406-7 (hardback) -- ISBN 978-0-415-89407-4 (paperback)
1. Family assessment. 2. Marital psychotherapy. 3. Family psychotherapy. 4.
Couples--Psychology. I. Sperry, Len. II. Assessment of couples and families.
RC488.53.A875 2011
616.89’1562--dc23 2011029454
Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at
http://www.taylorandfrancis.com
and the Routledge Web site at
http://www.routledgementalhealth.com
This book is again dedicated to the memory of the
late Kenneth I. Howard, Ph.D., a cherished mentor,
colleague, and friend, and a major figure in psychological
evaluation and clinical outcomes research.

Contents
Series Editor’s Foreword ix
Foreword xi
Preface xv
Contributors xvii
Chapter 1 Family Assessment: An Overview 1
Len Sperry
Chapter 2 Qualitative Assessment 17
Maureen Duffy and Ronald J. Chenail
Chapter 3 Standardized Assessment 53
A. Rodney Nurse and Len Sperry
Chapter 4 Observational Assessment 83
Robert B. Hampson and W. Robert Beavers
Chapter 5 Ongoing Assessment of Couples and Families 115
Len Sperry
Chapter 6 Couples Assessment Strategy and Inventories 137
Dennis A. Bagarozzi and Len Sperry
Chapter 7 Child and Adolescent Assessment Strategy
and Inventories 163
Alexandra Cunningham and Jack Scott
Chapter 8 Parent–Child and Family Assessment Strategy
and Inventories 203
Lynelle C. Yingling
vii