A step-by-step guide to assessing couples and families， this text offers a clear delineation of the process of family therapy through richly illustrated case material， featuring clients from a diversity of backgrounds Appealing to both experienced and novel therapists， "Assessing Families and Couples" portrays a clear picture of what occurs in a two-session model in conducting a family therapy assessment。 In the absence of a videotape to depict the process of therapy， readers can still visualize the details of the therapeutic journey in a step-by-step manner。 Students and instructors， alike， will find this book an invaluable tool for the learning and teaching of family therapy assessment。 The text begins with a brief historical review of family therapy today and continues with a detailed explanation of the authors' four-step assessment model。 The assessment model is illustrated by a series of thoroughly detailed case studies， featuring African-American， European， Latin-American， Spanish， Irish， and Chinese families。