The book is divided into eight different sections with a total of 31 chapters. The sections cover topics related to the history of family therapy, family evaluation, treatment approaches, couples therapy, psychiatric disorders and family therapy, indicators for family therapy and outcome data, family therapy in medical settings, and professional and ethical issues. Each chapter starts with well-formulated reader objectives, which contributes to time-efficient reading and active processing of the material. There are specific chapters and references on issues related to ethnicity, gender, race, and culture as well as guidelines for being sensitive to the diversity of family life. The major theoretical models of family therapy are presented in a clear and systematic way. Well-formulated guidelines are provided for best practices when engaging families, planning treatment, and dealing with specialized areas such as violence, loss, and chronic mental illness.