Hargrave, Terry D., & Pfitzer, Franz. The New Contextual Therapy: Guiding the Power of Give and Take

Adolescence, Summer, 2004

HARGRAVE, Terry D., & PFITZER, Franz. The New Contextual Therapy: Guiding the Power of Give and Take. New York: Brunner-Routledge, 2003. 158pp. $31.95 (h).

Contextual family therapy is a far-reaching approach that offers a comprehensive theory of integrating and balancing the concerns of individuality and togetherness, giving therapists the ability to reshape human relationships and solve problems using the strengths of trust, fairness, and freedom. In The New Contextual Therapy, Hargrave and Pfitzer endeavor to expose a new generation of therapists to this powerful approach. Using succinct, lucid language and common illustrations, this volume propels contextual theory into easy application for a variety of individual and family problems including depression, anxiety, drug abuse, long-standing emotional pain, and relational difficulties. The authors demystify contextual theory by explaining and clarifying its basic elements, focusing on the effective application of the theory in clinical practice, and illustrating interventions that promote change and heal violations of love and trust in individuals and families.