the stories by which we explain our life and behaviour. This clinical strategy fits well with an attachment-informed treatment since the concept of secure adult attachment is based on the reported coherence with which one tells one's life story. In this regard, the 'working through' or gaining a better understanding of one's relational experience, creates a more realistic and coherent view of the vulnerabilities, strengths and weakness of the self and others. Family therapy is the perfect clinical modality for Dallos because, unlike in individual therapy, family therapists have the primary attachment figures in the room. Therefore, resolving relational ruptures or failures can take place within the actual attachment relationship. In the family context, the therapist has the potential to facilitate the mutual understanding and resolving of past relational injuries and of reestablishing effective care giving-attachment seeking behavior. Dallos' book offers an in-depth review of these three frameworks. The review of attachment theory relies heavily on the work of Crittenden and provides a very coherent presentation of the contemporary thinking on attachment theory. The reviews of narrative and systemic therapy offer a good overview of the main goals, assumptions and techniques of these approaches. The reviews are comprehensive, thoughtful and integrative. At the end of the book a four-stage clinical model is offered. Stages consist of (1) creating a secure base, (2) exploring problems, (3) exploring alternatives and (4) integration and maintaining contact. Goals, targets and desired outcomes are guided by attachment theory. This part of the book is less developed, but the brilliant theoretical integration and application of attachment theory that fills most of the book is a very valuable read for anyone interested in applying attachment theory to therapy.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.