Understanding diverse families

Today's mental health clinicians face a rapidly changing clientele. Divorce, remarriage, multiracial marriages, different types of adoption, openly gay and lesbian relationships - all have significantly altered the nature and composition of families. At the same time, clinicians within managed care organizations have less control over the types of cases that make up their practice. Addressing an important need, this illuminating volume is designed to help practitioners work effectively with diversity in this challenging new environment. It confronts myths and stereotypes about what is considered "normal" and what constitutes a "family," insightfully examines a range of healthy families with creative family structures, and expands our notions about how families work. . Synthesizing current literature with information obtained through first-person interviews, the book begins with an overview of contemporary family forms. Chapters then provide an in-depth examination of three types of families: adoptive, gay and lesbian, and multiracial. Each is considered first in a sociocultural context, then from a developmental perspective, and finally with an eye to treatment implications. Issues