Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Aust N Z J Fam Ther 2018 Jun 9;39(2):218-231. Epub 2018 Jun 9.

University of Sydney Sydney.

Levels of father participation in parenting interventions are often very low, yet little is known about the factors which influence father engagement. We aimed to qualitatively explore perceived barriers to, and preferences for, parenting interventions in a community sample of fathers. Forty-one fathers across nine focus groups were interviewed using a semi-structured interview. Read More

Aust N Z J Fam Ther 2016 Dec 20;37(4):443-462. Epub 2016 Dec 20.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health ServiceWestern Australia.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Multisystemic Therapy (MST) intervention for Australian families invloved with the Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS). This program was implemented within the Western Australian Department of Health in 2005, and has continually operated two small clinical teams within the Perth metropolitan area since then. This intervention was specifically chosen to improve service access, engagement, and intervention with vulnerable families having young persons with a history of significant and enduring behavioural problems. Read More

Aust N Z J Fam Ther 2017 Mar 22;38(1):15-26. Epub 2017 Mar 22.

University of AgderSørlandet HospitalKristiansand.

This empirical article presents four narratives from an ongoing qualitative PhD project about spirituality and family therapeutic practice. Using case studies and narrative vignettes, the article presents client perspectives on being able to discuss their spirituality in therapy, and the repercussions when therapists exclude it. The article refers to current research and provides some reflections on how we can understand spirituality in the context of family therapeutic practice; therapists for holistic, cultural, and ethical reasons should acknowledge the client's spirituality. Read More

J Fam Ther 2016 Apr 15;38(2):206-225. Epub 2016 Mar 15.

Systemic Family Therapist and academic tutor, Section of Family Therapy, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London.

This article describes the use of emotion talk in the context of using a manualised approach to family therapy where the presenting problem is self-harm. Whilst we understand that there is an internal aspect to emotion, we also consider emotions to be socially purposeful, culturally constructed and interactional. We found that within the presenting families, negative emotions were often talked about as located within the young person. Read More

Aust N Z J Fam Ther 2014 Dec;35(4):414-430

University of Miami.

Although there are a number of highly efficacious in-person treatments designed to ameliorate relationship distress, only a small proportion of distressed couples seek out in-person treatment. Recently developed internet-based interventions based on these in-person treatments are a promising way to circumvent common barriers to in-person treatment and give more distressed couples access to these efficacious interventions. The overarching aims of this review are to provide couple and family therapists with a broad overview of the available internet-based interventions and provide suggestions about how these interventions might be utilized before, during, or after in-person treatment. Read More

J Fam Ther 2015 Apr;37(2):210-227

In the field of systemic psychotherapy there has been much recent interest in the areas of culture and reflexivity, and in working with couples. In this article we reflect on the process of conducting research in these areas. Drawing on findings from a large, national, empirical mixed-methods study on long-term relationships, we use two examples from the data to illustrate the complexity of researching across racial, cultural and sexual differences, in terms of research design and sampling, fieldwork and research practice, and making sense of multidimensional data. Read More

J Fam Ther 2013 May;35(2):219-223

Section of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychological & Clinical Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Cardiff University Church Road, Pontypridd, CF38 1HE, UK.

J Fam Ther 2011 Feb;33(1):3-19

Department of Counseling Psychology, University of Wisconsin at Madison.

A non-experimental pilot study examined child, mother, and family outcomes of a 10-session multi-family group intervention designed to reduce risk and promote resilience for mothers with depression and their families. Positive changes following the Keeping Families Strong intervention included mother-reported decreases in child behavior and emotional problems, improvements in the quality of family interactions and routines, and improvements in their own well being and support from others. Children (9-16 years) reported decreased internalizing symptoms, improved coping, increased maternal warmth and acceptance, and decreased stressful family events. Read More

J Fam Ther 2009 May;31(2):126-154

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, Columbia University, USA.

This article provides an overview of controlled trials research on treatment processes and outcomes in family-based approaches for adolescent substance abuse. Outcome research on engagement and retention in therapy, clinical impacts in multiple domains of adolescent and family functioning, and durability and moderators of treatment effects is reviewed. Treatment process research on therapeutic alliance, treatment fidelity and core family therapy techniques, and change in family processes is described. Read More