Book excerpt: Directive family therapy pioneer Jay Haley and Madeleine Richeport-Haley explain their innovative techniques for solving problems Directive Family Therapy is the final work of a widely recognized giant in the international family therapy field. This text is the pre-eminent state-of-the-art sourcebook on practical, innovative techniques to effectively solve problems throughout the life cycle stages. Directive family therapy pioneer Jay Haley, PhD(who passed away in 2007), and, Madeleine Richeport-Haley, PhD provide practitioners with creative directives to clearly identify problems, formulate well-designed treatment plans, and then successfully carry them out to achieve lasting therapeutic change. This essential text explores fascinating case studies illustrating the powerful, highly effective problem solving directives. The work is extensively referenced, and includes a full and complete bibliography of Haley's published works and a list of the authors' collaborative films. Directive Family Therapy presents highly instructive, revelatory stories about working with real life clients and provides dynamic, innovative, and oftentimes surprising solutions to a wide range of specifically detailed problems and clinical issues. All stages and issues in the life cycle are addressed, including birth, child development, raising children, problems in adolescence, becoming a couple, aging, and retirement. Also included is a detailed appendix containing a variety of poignant, insightful interviews featuring Haley’s reflections on the early years of practice and the development of directive family therapy. Problem areas addressed in Directive Family Therapy include: firesetting bedwetting fear of dogs violent behavior teenage rebellion incest drugs panic attacks abuse fights within couple relationship eating disorders alcohol abuse affairs sexual shyness within a couple relationship shoplifting and more Directive Family Therapy is invaluable for mental health professionals of every experience level, and is a useful family therapy resource for educators and students in MFT programs and psychologyand a fitting and poignant memoir to the work of a profoundly gifted family therapist.