Product Description

Today's family is in crisis.Many diverse factors have combined to weaken its structure in American society: the conflicting needs and schedules of dual working parents; the ongoing fragmentation of our civic, cultural, and religious communities; the prevalence of divorce and remarriage; the advent of technological distractions like video games and computers. What was once a strong, cohesive unit has become, in many cases, no more than a loose grouping of individuals with individual timetables and agendas. However, now more that ever before, we have the freedom to shape the kind of family we want, rather that an obligation to conform to inflexible concepts of what a family should be.

Nationally respected family therapist William J. Doherty believes that we can strengthen the ties that bind us together-and create new, more permanent ones in the process-through the use of family-specific everyday rituals. The Intentional Family -- a practical guide to avoiding conflicts and promoting understanding -- offers a myriad of simple yet effective methods for opening regular channels of communication between parents and their children, husbands and wives: from shared family meals and vacations, to regular "storytime," weekly drives, religious services, and monthly "spouse only" romantic dinners. Clearly presented and engagingly written, here are proven and indispensable strategies for reviving a lost sense of family -- useful guidelines that will help us make the most of our most important relationships.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #318688 in Books
• Published on: 1999-10-01
• Released on: 1999-10-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Review
"A family, like a canoe, must be steered or paddled, or it won't take you where you want to go." -- William J. Doherty

"A home improvement manual for the modern family. The advice will build strong and loving families." -- Mary Pipher, bestselling author of Reviving Ophelia

"Wise and compassionate, The Intentional Family is a 'user's guide' to building satisfying and lasting family ties. It belongs on every family's bookshelf." -- Barbara Dafoe Whitehead, author of The Divorce Culture

"A family, like a canoe, must be steered or paddled, or it won't take you where you want to go." -- -- William J. Doherty

"A home improvement manual for the modern family. The advice will build strong and loving families." -- -- Mary Pipher, bestselling author of Reviving Ophelia

"Sensible well-written Doherty offers up actual tips that will help families connect." -- USA Today

About the Author
William J. Doherty, Ph.D., is one of the leading family therapists in the country. He is a practicing therapist and Director of the Marriage and Family Therapy Program at the University of Minnesota. He lives in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Customer Reviews

Readable, practical, down to earth advice for all families.
This is one of those rare psychology books related to family life that is eminently practical as well as theoretical. Dr. William Doherty does a fantastic job of blending a fairly simple, almost obvious, psychological concepts with ideas and suggestions you can actually use immediately in your daily life. I was never submerged in theory but had enough to appreciate the thought behind the suggestions. I was both inspired and challenged by what I read. If you work with or care about families and children I recommend you read this book. Thoughtful readers will be changed by what they read.

Great text for designing couple and family practices
William Doherty provides an opportunity to reflect on the state of your relationship with your spouse and your children and he provides ideas to bring the family together. He is non-judgemental in his approach and is not an idealist, rather, he knows that people are busy and that it takes work (and some failure) to produce a family of meaning, love and togetherness. We have found this to be a very useful text for conversations with each other and with other couples.

Essential information!
I read this book when it first came out in hard cover. Since then I have used it as a text book in a family resource management class I teach at a university (because family resources are not limited to money and "things").

Doherty has done a super job of translating what he knows as a family professional to the language of typical readers interested in improving family life. I believe every family should read this to reinforce the notion that material possessions don't make a great family. Actively attending to interpersonal relationships is the key to family success!