JoEllen Patterson, PhD, LMFT, is Professor in the Marital and Family Therapy Program at the University of San Diego. She is also Associate Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine. Dr. Patterson received a Rotary International Scholarship to work at Cambridge University, as well as Fulbright Awards to work in Norway, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Canada. She has published several books and has served on the editorial boards of leading family therapy journals. Her global work includes initiatives in Jordan and Ecuador.

Lee Williams, PhD, LMFT, is Professor of Marital and Family Therapy at the University of San Diego. He is a Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and does couple therapy with veterans at the VA San Diego Medical Center. His research and publications have focused primarily on marriage preparation, couples with religious differences, and family therapy training.

Todd M. Edwards, PhD, LMFT, is Professor and Chair of the Marital and Family Therapy Program at the University of San Diego (USD). He is a Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and Editor of the International Journal of Systemic Therapy. In addition to his work at USD, Dr. Edwards has a private practice, where he works with individuals, couples, and families, and is a health coach through the RELINK program at the University of California, San Diego.

Larry Chamow, PhD, LMFT, is Clinical Professor of Marital and Family Therapy at the University of San Diego and is in full-time private practice at the Pacific Family Institute in Carlsbad, California. He is a Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Dr. Chamow's interests and publications focus on couple therapy, supervision, the self of the therapist, and family businesses.

Claudia Grauf-Grounds, PhD, LMFT, is Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy at Seattle Pacific University and served as a clinical faculty member at the University of Washington School of Medicine for over 10 years. She conducts research, publishes, and presents on family therapy training, supervision, and collaborative healthcare models that embrace spirituality. Dr. Grauf-Grounds is a Clinical Fellow and Approved Supervisor in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. Honored as Supervisor of the Year by the Washington Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, she enjoys mentoring the next generation of psychotherapists, pastors and physicians.

1. The Beginning Family Therapist: Taking On the Challenge
2. Before the Initial Interview
3. The Initial Interview
4. Guidelines for Conducting Assessment
5. Developing a Treatment Focus and Treatment Plan
6. Basic Treatment Skills and Interventions
7. Working with Families and Children
8. Working with Older Adults and Their Caregivers
9. Working with Couples
10. When a Family Member Has a Mental Illness
11. Getting Unstuck in Therapy
12. Termination
13. Family Therapy in the Future
Appendix. Screening Instruments