Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--York University, 1999. Graduate Programme in Psychology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 309-322). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004 & res_dat=xri:pqdiss & rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation & rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:NQ39303.

Thesis (M. Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-106).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 2004. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-101).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 2004. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-101).

Thesis (M.Phil.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-106) Also available in print.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 2004. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-101).

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / Family therapy offers an alternative to traditional psychotherapeutic ways of treatment. It becomes possible for the clinician to conceptualize the family as a system and to observe the patterns and interrelations in the family. Therapy is thus focused on the family as a whole and not on the individual in isolation. The family therapist sees maladaptive behaviour as functional for the family system in which it occurs, and aims therapeutic interventions at the family as a whole. The danger exists however, that because of his conceptualization, the family therapist can neglect the individual in therapy. The individual is seen mainly as a subsystem of the family and less attention is paid to the psychology of the individual. This can lead to a situation where the world of experience of the individual as well as the meaning of the symptomatology for the individual become neglected. This can lessen the effectiveness of family therapy and can lead to individuals feeling as if their experiences are not understood and their emotions not acknowledged. Through the integration of elements such as empathic understanding and unconditional acceptance from the traditions of individual therapy, it becomes possible for the clinician to attend more to the individual in family therapy.

M.A. (Clinical Psychology) / As family therapy has gained acceptance as a treatment modality within the mental health field, increasing attention has been directed towards theory development. With the focus on theoretical issues, including that of epistemology, a division has arisen between strategic and ecosysternic approaches to family therapy. This study was undertaken in order to examine the nature of this debate. The work of Jay Haley was chosen as representative of the strategic approach, and that of Bradford Keeney as representative of the ecosystemic approach to family therapy. The study proceeded on the assumption that fundamental differences exist between the two approaches, which reflect the difference between a lineal and a non-lineal epistemology. In order to place the study in context, the historical development of the family therapy field was reviewed and the conclusion was reached that family therapy represents a method of conceptualising human behaviour, which isdiscontinuous with previous conceptualisations, and which parallels similar shifts in other disciplines. The concept of epistemology within the family therapy field was explored. The lack of clarity which continues to characterise the use of this term within the field, may be attributed, at least in part, to its confusing use by influential writers in the field. The underlying assumptions, central theoretical concepts and methodology of both Haley's strategic therapy and Keeney's cybernetic epistemology, were delineated and the two approaches were then compared along a number of critical dimensions. The investigation established significant conceptual differences between the two approaches and the conclusion was reached that these differences reflect essential epistemological differences. While Keeney's ecosystemic approach is consistent with a non-lineal epistemology, Haley's approach continues to reflect an underlying lineal epistemology

published_or_final_version / abstract / Social Work and Social Administration / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy