The alcoholic family in recovery : a developmental model /

Brown and Lewis, both competent clinical researchers, offer a well-written and understandable work. It presents a framework for describing, comprehending, and treating families with an alcoholic member. The material has a limited focus on the two-parent nuclear family but does not deny the existence of alternative family constellations. The philosophy of diagnosis, process, and treatment is strongly biased toward a 12-step approach, since the most successful result for those seeking treatment has come from AA and similar programs. However, the authors fail to recognize that most "alcoholics" who abstain do so without benefit of any formal program. This is a very useful book for clinicians seeking to structure family work and those searching for a helpful practice foundation. Many therapists will find the model of family recovery to be particularly valuable. The bibliography is excellent and the material soundly referenced. Upper-division undergraduates and above. F. J. Peirce emeritus, University of Oklahoma