Families and Mental Retardation - by Diane T Marsh (Hardcover)

About the Book

Traditional pathology models do not provide a satisfactory framework for professional practice with families of people with mental retardation. Families and Mental Retardation is written from the perspective of a competence paradigm for professional practice, which offers a constructive alternative to the more prevalent pathology models of the past. The goal of professional practice is to empower families in coping with the catastrophic stressor of mental retardation. Such an approach recognizes the strengths and resources of families, which have often been minimized in the past, and fosters new collaborative modes of family-professional relationships.

Unique features include a consideration of life-span and family system and subsystem perspectives, as well as the inclusion of powerful personal accounts of family members. The volume is likely to be of special value to mental health and health care professionals, who often receive little training in mental retardation or family-professional relations, and who tend to apply a pathology model. In contrast, a competence paradigm is more prevalent in education.

Book Synopsis

Traditional pathology models do not provide a satisfactory framework for professional practice with families of people with mental retardation. Families and Mental Retardation is written from the perspective of a competence paradigm for professional practice, which offers a constructive alternative to the more prevalent pathology models of the past. The goal of professional practice is to empower families in coping with the catastrophic stressor of mental retardation. Such an approach recognizes the strengths and resources of families, which have often been minimized in the past, and fosters new collaborative modes of family-professional relationships.

Unique features include a consideration of life-span and family system and subsystem perspectives, as well as the inclusion of powerful personal accounts of family members. The volume is likely to be of special value to mental health and health care professionals, who often receive little training in mental retardation or family-professional relations, and who tend to apply a pathology model. In contrast, a competence paradigm is more prevalent in education.

Review Quotes

"Marsh's book is a pleasure to read. She writes well and with conviction that most families cope admirably with the help of supportive family members, professionals, and other supportive structures. [A] readable, comprehensive volume that has much to offer professionals who come into contact with families and to the families themselves."-Contemporary Psychology

?. . . a remarkable job of using professional literature and articulate family testimony to develop this very convincing textbook. This book can form a basis of literature that can be used in our classrooms so that formally trained professionals can spend their time learning up-to-date practice skills in working with families of the mentally ill. With more books like this one, professionals will be able to learn good practice skills to carry with them into the field.?-Innovations & Research

?Marsh's book is a pleasure to read. She writes well and with conviction that most families cope admirably with the help of supportive family members, professionals, and other supportive structures. [A] readable, comprehensive volume that has much to offer professionals who come into contact with families and to the families themselves.?-Contemporary Psychology

." . . a remarkable job of using professional literature and articulate family testimony to develop this very convincing textbook. This book can form a basis of literature that can be used in our classrooms so that formally trained professionals can spend their time learning up-to-date practice skills in working with families of the mentally ill. With more books like this one, professionals will be able to learn good practice skills to carry with them into the field."-Innovations & Research

About the Author

DIANE T. MARSH is Professor of Psychology at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. She is also a Licensed Psychologist with many years of experience as a psychotherapist and clinical consultant, and currently specializes in professional practice with families who have a member with a disability. She is the author of Families and Mental Illness: New Directions in Professional Practice (Praeger, 1992).