Transforming Troubled Children, Teens, and Their Families
An Internal Family Systems Model for Healing

In Transforming Troubled Children, Teens, and Their Families: An Internal Family Systems Model for Healing, Dr. Mones presents the first comprehensive application of the Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy model for work with youngsters and their families. This model centers diagnosis and treatment around the concept of the Functional Hypothesis, which views symptoms as adaptive and survival­based when viewed in multiple contexts. The book provides a map to help clinicians understand a child?s problems amidst the reactivity of parents and siblings, and to formulate effective treatment strategies that flow directly from this understanding. This is a nonpathologizing systems and contextual approach that brings forward the natural healing capacity within clients. Dr. Mones also shows how a therapist can open the emotional system of a family so that parents can let go of their agendas with their children and interact in a loving, healthy, Self-led way.
This integrative MetaModel combines wisdom from Psychodynamic, Structural, Bowenian, Strategic, Sensorimotor, and Solution-Focused models interwoven with IFS Therapy. A glossary of terms is provided to help readers with concepts unique to IFS. Unique to this approach is the emphasis on shifting back and forth between intrapsychic and relational levels of experience. Therapy vignettes are explored to help therapists address issues such as trauma, anxiety, depression, somatization, oppositional and self-destructive behavior in children, along with undercurrents of attachment injury. Two detailed cases are followed over a full course of treatment. A section on Frequently Asked Questions explores work with families of separation and divorce, resistance, the trajectory of treatment, dealing with anger, linking to twelve-step programs, and much more. This is an ideal book for any therapist in quest of understanding the essence of healing and seeking therapeutic strategies applied within a compassionate framework.

Foreword R. Schwartz Part 1: The Internal Family Systems MetaModel 1. The Essence of Emotional Healing 2. Historical Roots of the MetaModel and Internal Family Systems Therapy 3. Family Dynamics: The Dance of Adaptation Part 2: Therapeutic Applications of the Internal Family Systems MetaModel: Doing Child-Focused Family Therapy 4. Clinical Assessment of Children and their Families 5. Organizing Concepts and Principles for Treatment of Children and their Families 6. Intrapsychic Treatment of Children 7. Healing Attachment Injuries of Children 8. Guiding the Process of Self-Led Parenting 9. Working with Siblings 10. Working with Teens 11. Inside the Child's Body Part 3: Beyond the Family 12. The Child in Larger Contexts Part 4: Challenging Aspects of Therapy with Children, Teens, and their Families 13. Frequently Asked Questions in Working with the Internal Family Systems MetaModel Part 5: Putting it all Together 14. Two Cases Part 6: Conclusions and References 15. The Real Picture

Arthur G. Mones, PhD, ABPP, is a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology and Faculty in the Postgraduate Program in Couple Therapy at the Derner Institute, Adelphi University. He is an AAMFT Approved Supervisor and a Certified IFS Therapist. Dr. Mones maintains a practice in Hewlett, Long Island in New York, specializing in individual, couple, and family therapy, and offers workshops and consultation groups to professionals of all disciplines.